Anubias

Broad-leaved spear leaf ( Anubias barteri ) (small) and Verschiedenblättriges Speerblatt ( Anubias heterophylla ) ( large) in the aquarium.

The spear leaves ( Anubias, Syn: Amauriella ) are the only plant genus of the tribe Anubiadeae, which belongs to the family Araceae ( Araceae ). They are known aquatic plants, which are extremely popular in the aquarium hobby. The Anubias afzelii Schott, 1857 is the first article described Anubias The name is inspired by the name of the Egyptian god of the dead Anubis, since the plants are to be found in the shade of tropical and subtropical rain forest swamps of Africa.

The plants need little light and come with very nutrient-poor water. There are helophytes. Supposedly Anubias contain oxalic acid. There is no reliable source and no known studies about whether and how much oxalic acid is actually present in the plants and their rhizomes.

Description

The spear leaf species are herbaceous perennial plants. There are marsh and aquatic plants. They form rhizomes. The simple leaves are usually stalked.

The unisexual flowers are small and inconspicuous, and a club-shaped inflorescence ( spadix ) combined, which is enclosed by a bract ( spathe ). Are formed berries.

Species

The genus spear leaves ( Anubias ) comprises about eight species:

• Anubias Schott afzelli, occurs in Senegal, Guinea, Sierra Leone and Mali
• Anubias barteri Schott, is in West Africa, Cameroon, Gabon and the Congo before, with several varieties: Broad-leaved spear leaf ( Anubias barteri var barteri Schott )
• Rosebay Speerblatt ( Anubias barteri var angustifolia ( Engl ) Crusio )
• Caladiumblättriges Speerblatt ( Anubias barteri var caladiifolia Engl )
• Bald Speerblatt ( Anubias barteri var glabra NE Brown, syn: A. lanceolata NE Brown)
• Dwarf Speerblatt ( Anubias barteri var nana ( Engl ) Crusio ), occurs only in Cameroon