Cryptocoryne auriculata

Cryptocoryne auriculata is a seldom-encountered species from the southern Philippines, particularly the Mindanao region. It produces narrow, lance-shaped leaves in dark olive-green with a subtly bullate leaf surface. In the wild it grows in soft, warm, slightly acidic streams beneath rainforest canopy. In the aquarium it requires stable, warm water conditions and does not tolerate frequent disturbance. Growth is slow. Its relative scarcity in cultivation is not due to particular sensitivity but simply because it has been rarely collected and distributed. For experienced Cryptocoryne enthusiasts seeking to expand their collection beyond the commonly available species, it is a genuine and rewarding find.