Bucephalandra Kishii, Beautiful Aquatic Plant Landed On Borneo Rain Forest
Buchepalandra kishii or what we said by B. Skeleton king is one of the familiar commercial names in the middle of aquatic plant enthusiasts. They cultivated permanently due to their good ability to adapt to aquascape conditions. Now, to enlarge your bucephalandra kishii knowledge I am going to share some information about this species.
Eponymy and Commercial name
To respect the Japanese collector, Hiroyouki Kishi, the name for this species given. Mr. Hiroyouki Kishi is one of the passionate collectors and skilled growers of the aquarium plant. For the commercial name, the seller or collector mostly named this species by Achilles, Black or Green Skeleton and Skeleton King
Holotype of Bucephalandra kishii or Skeleton king
Bucephalandra kishii originally comes from the Indonesian Borneo, Kalimantan Barat, Kabupaten Melawi. It is one of the popular spots where the climbers would find extreme routes. As long as you explore your trip you would see the tropical rainforest trees along the road to reach the peak. For your good information, you could meet the fresh relaxing view of a small local river there. Bucephalandra kishii occurs on riverside upper hill forest over granite (above 1500 m above sea level).
The Habitat of Bucephalandra kishii
Sources : Wong & Boyce (2014)
Description of Bucephalandra kishii or Skeleton king
It easily recognizes with the other species by the regular rosettes of leave’s form. In botany, the word “rosette” refers to the circular arrangement resembling leaves. Bucephalandra kishii also symbolized by the cone-shape of the appendix and consist of lax elongate staminodes with excavate tips.
Bucephalandra kishii is belonged to rheophytic herbs or an aquatic plant that lives in the fast-moving water current. The species appear to be facultative instead of obligate one. It’s mean this herb needs the presence of oxygen due to the aerobic respiration process but capable to switch into anaerobic one if the oxygen is absent. Meanwhile, the obligate one dies in the presence of oxygen.
Generally, this plant has 12 cm tall. It leaves gather in compact till slightly loose rosette. The petiole’s size approximately 1-3,5 cm long x 2 mm in diam. The blade of Bucephalandra kishii created the elliptic to ovate appearance with semi-glossy medium green to extremely reddish-green or purple-green (upper surface) and paler greenish-red (lower surface).
Bucephalandra’s kishii on the habitat (above) , Bucephalandra’s kishii ‘s flower (under)
Source : Wong and Boyce (2014)
Bucephalndra kishii and it’s flower
Source : Borneo Aquatic Farm
Hint and Tip for the Collector :
The Bucephalandra kishii adaptation for the new environment (nonhabitat) seems so differently unique with other species. Actually, it’s kind of impossible to survive inside the water or the aquascape’s condition. But, to balance that, this species doing a very good adaptation, as We have said in the beginning. The land leaf spontaneously melts and changes into the waterleaf form to avoid the waterlog and die situation.
Having another question about this species of Bucephalandra? Kindly leave the comment or knock us in https://www.facebook.com/erwin.syahputra.35 . We sell various kinds of Bucephalandras at a good price. Note, we are ready for shipping around the world. Happy purchasing, everyone!
Reference :
Wong S. Y., Boyce P. C. 2014. Studies on Schismatoglottideae (Araceae) of Borneo XXX – New species and combinations for Bucephalandra. Willdenowia : 44.
