Anubias barteri var nana, Anubias barteri, Anubias afzelii
Jacob s plant guide anubias
Anubias is a genus of aquatic and semi-aquatic flowering plants in the family Araceae, native to tropical central and western Africa. They primarily grow in rivers and streams, but can also be found in marshes. They are characterized by broad, thick, dark leaves that come in many different forms. The genus was revised in 1979 and since then its nomenclature has been stable. Species can be determined by using mostly characteristics of the inflorescence. Because of the often shady places where the plants grow, the genus was named after the Egyptian god Anubis, the god of the afterlife. The genus was first described in 1857 by Heinrich Wilhelm Schott, with A. afzelii as its type species.
Anubias, most notably the varying forms of A. barteri, are commonly used in aquariums, usually attached to rocks or bogwood. In contrast to most plants, Anubias generally prefer subdued lighting and can also produce flowers underwater. In the aquarium they should be placed in shaded areas, otherwise algae will develop on the leaves.
Anubias are considered by many aquarists some of the easiest plants to maintain, since their light and nutrient requirements are very low and also because herbivorous fish will not eat it (with a few exceptions). This is why Anubias are some of the few plants which can be used in aquariums with African cichlids and goldfishes.
Reproduction in artificial environments can be accomplished by stolon division or from side shoots. The stolon must always be above the substrate in order to survive, otherwise it will rot and the plant dies. It is also possible to propagate Anubias by seed.
The natural growth rate of all species in this genus is rather slow. Usually, they produce a leaf every 3 weeks, or even slower. And while they were once thought to be among the few plants that do not respond to CO2 addition, hobbyists have seen great results and improved growth with CO2 and high light intensity.
The most commonly available species of this genus is Anubias barteriSchott, which is very polymorphic and is subdivided into several varieties. The biggest representatives of the genus are Anubias gigantea Chevalier ex Hutchinson and Anubias heterophylla Engler. Their leaf-stems can grow up to 83 cm, with leaves 40 cm long and 14 cm broad with lateral lobes up to 28 cm long and 10 cm broad. The smallest representative is Anubias barteri var. nana (Engler) Crusio, with a height up to 10 cm and with leaves up to 6 cm long and 3 cm broad.
Anubias can be grown emersed (above water). For this reason they may be used in paludariums.
Quick facts
Anubias afzelii Schott
Narrow-leafed, medium-sized Anubias
Characteristics: plant with stolon
Leaf-stem: up to 20 cm
Leaves: 13–35 cm long, 3–13 cm broad
Height in aquarium: 25 – 30 cm
Optimal conditions:
Temperature: 22 - 27 °C
pH: 6.0 - 7.0
Water hardness: 2 dGH - 6 dGH
Position in aquarium: middle to back
Usual growth rate: one leaf every 2 months
Anubias barteri Schott
Common varieties:
Anubias barteri var. angustifolia (Engler) Crusio
Synonym: Anubias lanceolata f. angustifolia Engler
Narrow leaves, similar to afzelii, but much smaller
Leaf-stem: up to 32 cm
Leaves: up to 18 cm long, up to 3.5 cm wide
Height in aquarium: 10 – 15 cm
Optimal conditions:
Temperature: 20 - 27 °C
pH: 5.5 - 8.0
Water hardness: < 8 dGH
Position in aquarium: middle
Usual growth rate: one leaf every 2 months
Anubias barteri var. barteri
Compact, heart-shaped anubias
Leaf-stem: up to 23 cm
Leaves: 7–23 cm long, 4–11 cm wide
Height in aquarium: 25 – 45 cm
Optimal conditions:
Temperature: 20 - 27 °C
pH: 5.5 - 9.0
Water hardness: < 20 dGH
Position in aquarium: back
Usual growth rate: one leaf every 3 months
Anubias barteri var. caladiifolia Engler
Heart-shaped anubias
Leaf-stem: up to 54 cm
Leaves: 10–23 cm long, 5–14 cm wide
Height in aquarium: 7 – 30 cm
Optimal conditions:
Temperature: 20 - 27 °C
pH: 5.5 - 8.0
Water hardness: < 20 dGH
Position in aquarium: middle to back
Usual growth rate: one leaf every 2 months
Anubias barteri var. glabra N. E. Brown
Synonyms: Anubias lanceolata N. E. Brown, Anubias minima Chevalier.
Narrow-leafed, large anubias
Leaf-stem: up to 35 cm long
Leaves: spear-shaped, up to 21 cm long, 9 cm wide
Height in aquarium: 30 – 50 cm
Optimal conditions:
Temperature: 22 - 27 °C
pH: 5.5 - 8.0
Water hardness: < 20 dGH
Position in aquarium: back
Usual growth rate: 4 - 8 leaves per year
Anubias barteri var. nana (Engler) Crusio
Synonym: Anubias nana Engler
Dwarf, creeping, with heart-shaped leaves
Leaf-stem: up to 5 cm long
Leaves: up to 6 cm long and 3 cm wide
Height in aquarium: 5 – 10 cm
Optimal conditions:
Temperature: 22 - 27 °C
pH: 5.5 - 9.0
Water hardness: 3 - 10 dGH
Position in aquarium: front
Usual growth rate: one leaf every month
Anubias gigantea Chevalier ex Hutchinson
Synonyms: Anubias gigantea var. tripartita Chevalier, Anubias hastifolia var. robusta Engler
Large arrow-shaped leaves
Leaf-stem: up to 83 cm long
Leaves: up to 30 cm long and 14 cm wide, with large lateral lobes up to 28 cm long and 10 cm broad
Seldomly used in aquariums
Anubias gilletii De Wildeman & Durand
Initially heart-shaped, later with long rear fringes
Leaf-stem: up to 40 cm
Leaves: arrow-shaped, 25 cm long, 12 – 13 cm wide, lateral lobes up to 13 cm long
Height in aquarium: 25 – 40 cm
Optimal conditions:
Temperature: 22 - 27 °C
pH: 6.0 - 8.0
Water hardness: 4 - 10 dGH
Position in aquarium: back
Usual growth rate: 2 - 6 leaves per year
Anubias gracilis Chevalier ex Hutchinson
Whether this is a separate species or another variety of Anubias barteri is doubtful
Leaf-stem: up to 33 cm
Leaves: triangular heart-shaped, 12 cm long, 4–10 cm wide, lateral lobes up to 7 cm long and 3 cm wide
Height in aquarium: 20 – 30 cm
Optimal conditions:
Temperature: 24 - 27 °C
pH: 6.0 - 8.0
Water hardness: 5 - 12 dGH
Position in aquarium: middle to back
Usual growth rate: 2 - 6 leaves per year
Anubias hastifolia Engler
Synonyms: Amauriella hastifolia (Engler) Hepper, Anubias hastifolia var. sublobata Engler, Anubias auriculata Engler, Amauriella auriculata (Engler) Hepper, Anubias haullevilleana De Wildeman, Anubias laurentii De Wildeman, Amauriella obanensisRendle, Amauriella talbotii Rendle
Leaves: long heart-shaped
Leaf-stem: up to 67 cm long
Leaves: up to 33 cm long and 14 cm wide, lateral lobes up to 26 cm long and 8 cm broad
Height in aquarium: 30 – 50 cm
Optimal conditions:
Temperature: 22 - 27 °C
pH: 6.0 - 8.0
Water hardness: < 20 dGH
Position in aquarium: middle to back
Usual growth rate: 2 - 6 leaves per year
Anubias heterophylla Engler
Synonyms: Anubias congensis N. E. Brown, Anubias congensis var. crassispadix Engler, Anubias affinis De Wildeman, Anubias engleri De Wildeman, Anubias bequertii De Wildeman, Anubias undulata (trade name)
Very large species, for tall aquariums
Leaf-stem: up to 66 cm long
Leaves: 38 cm long, 13 cm wide, sometimes with very short basal lobes
