Cryptocoryne x timahensis Bastmeijer
| Etymology | Genus | From Greek, krypto=hidden and koryne=club, for the club-shaped spadix which is hidden in the spathe |
|---|---|---|
| Species | From Bukit Timah, where it was discovered | |
| Family | Araceae | |
| Synonyms | - | |
| Common Names | Bukit Timah Cryptocoryne | |
| Status | Native: Undetermined | |
| Form | Aquatic Herb | |
| Native Distribution | Singapore | |
Diagnostics:
Cryptocoryne x timahensis is a special aquatic hybrid Cryptocoryne, only known in a small artificial dammed pool at Bukit Timah Nature Reserve. The leaves are narrow and oval with a rounded or heart-shaped base and a pointed tip, similar to C. cordata. Most plants also show crosswise markings on the upper surface of the leaves, a feature shared with C. nurii. For its flower, it has a spathe limb with large, uneven red bumps, a clearly visible collar, and a heart-shaped base. These features differ from C. nurii, which has a longer spathe limb with a yellow background — a trait also seen in C. cordata (Bastmeijer & Kiew, 2001).
Due to the mixed characteristics, it was postulated to be a hybrid of C. nurii and C. cordata, though neither species is recorded in Singapore. Artificial breeding was also ruled out as both species were difficult to cultivate at that time. Its parentage thus remains to be confirmed.
Interesting Facts:
In the mid-90s, the Singapore Science Centre published a picture of this plant with an prescribed status to Cryptocoryne griffithii in the Singapore Red List (Bastmeijer, 2001). Jan Dirk Bastmeijer, a Dutch naturalist and Cryptocoryne expert, noticed some discrepancies and, in 1999, was allowed to visit the site at Bukit Timah to study the plant. It was located in two ponds up and downstream of an artificial dam built during the Japanese Occupation. Pollen analysis from the flowers was found to be less than 10%, and together with its various features, confirmed it as a new unique hybrid.
Growing at the up and downstream of artificial ponds in Bukit Timah.
Leaves arranged in a rosette.
Underside of leaf.
A larger leaf showing different pattern of markings.
Flower.
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 (2001) The Crypts Pages: Cryptocoryne ×timahensis Bastmeijer. https://www.cryptocoryneworld.org/c_×timahensis.php. Accessed on 5-Oct-2025.
Author: Siyang
Posted: 2025-10-05 / Modified: 2025-10-06