| Etymology | Genus | From Greek, krypto=hidden and koryne=club, for the club-shaped spadix which is hidden in the spathe |
|---|---|---|
| Species | After Dr William Griffith, 19th century botanist and curator of the Botanic Garden in Calcutta | |
| Family | Araceae | |
| Synonyms | - | |
| Common Names | Griffith's Cryptocoryne | |
| Status | Native: Critically Endangered | |
| Form | Aquatic Herb | |
| Native Distribution | Malay Peninsula, Singapore, Bintam, Kalimantan | |
Diagnostics:
Cryptocoryne griffithii is a fully aquatic herb found in the freshwater streams in Bukit Timah and Nee Soon Swamp Forest. Among its other congeners found here, Cryptocoryne ciliata is extinct, while Cryptocoryne xtimahensis is only found in a specific dammed pond in Bukit Timah (Bastmeijer & Kiew, 2001). The underside of the leaf is purple.
Interesting Facts:
Cryptocoryne species are commonly collected and grown by hobbyists; however, Cryptocoryne griffithii is reportedly a challenging plant to grow and maintain in a standard aquarium (Bastmeijer, 2003).
Patch of Cryptocoryne griffithii in Nee Soon Swamp Forest (2011).
Leaf.
Underside.
References
Bastmeijer JD, Kiew R (2001) A New Cryptocoryne Hybrid (Araceae) from the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve, Singapore. Garden's Bulletin Singapore 53(2001): 9-17.
Bastmeijer JD (2003) The Crypts Pages: Cryptocoryne griffithii Schott. https://www.cryptocoryneworld.org/c_griffithii.php. Accessed on 9-Sep-2025.
Author: Siyang
Posted: 2025-09-09