Bucephalandra
1858 illustration[1]
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Alismatales
Family: Araceae
Subfamily: Aroideae
Tribe: Schismatoglottideae
Genus: Bucephalandra
Schott 1858
Synonyms[2]

Microcasia Becc.

Bucephalandra is a genus of flowering plants in the family Araceae. There are 30 species of Bucephalandra which have been discovered in Borneo and have been formally described by S.Y. Wong and P.C. Boyce.[3][4][5] Most of the species are found in Borneo.[3] Bucephalandra are usually found growing as dense mats over stones or rocks in streams or rivers in moist tropical forest.[3][6]

Etymology

Bucephalandra is derived from Greek words, βοῦς (bous; bull or cow), κεφαλή (kephalē; head) and ἀνήρ (anēr; man), referring to the shape of the single male (staminate) flowers.

Description

These rheophytic (very seldom facultative) herbs can be minute to rather large, about 2 cm to 60 cm tall. Their stems are creeping and rooting, with a few or many leaves. The leaves can be quite delicate or tough and their shapes can be elliptic, oblong, linear, oblanceolate or obovate. Most of the leaf surfaces are rather glossy and the colours of the leaf range from dark blue-green to green, often with white to yellow to red tinges or spots on the back of the leaves. Inflorescence can be solitary or in pair to several. Spathes are mostly white with flush (a few of them are yellow) and shapes can be ellipsoid to lanceolate, narrowing to a point. The limbs (upper part of spathes) drop off during staminate anthesis, leaving the persistent funnel-shaped lower part of the spathe. Spadix consist of a few or no pistillodes at the base, pistillate zone, a few rows of scale-like motile staminodes (interstice staminodes), staminate zone, and appendix. Pistils are depressed globose or depressed trapezoidal in shape, 1-locular and with many ovules. Stamens consist of short filaments with thecae at the tip, dehiscing by a pore. Pollens squeezed out from the theca pore like a droplet. Fruits are berries with round to ellipsoidal shapes.[3]

Anthesis and role of interstice staminodes

The scale-like motile staminodes sandwiched by pistillate and staminate flower zones are called interstice staminodes. These staminodes play a role in controlling pollinators' access to the pistillate flower zone and to protect the developing fruits.[3]

During pistillate anthesis, the spathe inflates to create a slit in the limb, stigmas become sticky and emit odour to attract pollinatros, and the interstice staminodes and thecae erect, allowing pollinators to access pistillate zone. When stigmas become non-receptive, the interstice staminodes begin to lower and seal off the lower spathe.

During staminate athesis, the staminate flower thecae point upward and emit odour. Shortly after that, the limb splits away from the lower spathe, coincidentally pollen droplet extrudes from the tips of the theca horns.

Once the fertilization is successful, the interstice staminodes become photosynthetic, thicken, and harden until the fruits are fully developed. The enlarged berries push the staminodes up and staminodes shed away. The fruits are exposed and quickly become gooey pulp embedded with seeds.[3]

Bucephalandra in the home aquarium.

Bucephalandra, a relatively recent addition to the aquarium hobby, has quickly risen in popularity among aquarists. Native to the streams of Borneo, it was introduced to aquarium enthusiasts seeking new and unique plant options. Known for its slow growth, diverse leaf shapes, and striking colors, Bucephalandra offers a different aesthetic compared to traditional choices like Anubias or Java Fern. Its iridescent leaves and ease of care have made it a favorite in the aquascaping community. From its humble beginnings in the wild streams of Borneo, Bucephalandra has now become a cherished plant in aquariums worldwide.[7]

Seed dispersal of Bucephalandra

The seeds of Bucephalandra are dispersed by splash-cup mechanism; water droplets splash into the funnel-shape lower spathe and this motion ejects the seeds. The seeds will then anchor on the mosses or tiny fissures on the surrounding rock.[3]

Species

  1. Bucephalandra akantha S.Y. Wong & P. C. Boyce
  2. Bucephalandra aurantiitheca S.Y. Wong & P. C. Boyce
  3. Bucephalandra belindae S.Y. Wong & P. C. Boyce
  4. Bucephalandra bogneri S.Y. Wong & P. C. Boyce
  5. Bucephalandra catherineae P. C. Boyce, Bogner & Mayo
  6. Bucephalandra chimaera S.Y. Wong & P. C. Boyce
  7. Bucephalandra chrysokoupa S.Y. Wong & P. C. Boyce
  8. Bucephalandra diabolica S.Y. Wong & P. C. Boyce
  9. Bucephalandra elliptica S.Y. Wong & P. C. Boyce
  10. Bucephalandra filiformis S.Y. Wong & P. C. Boyce
  11. Bucephalandra forcipula S.Y. Wong & P. C. Boyce
  12. Bucephalandra gigantea Bogner
  13. Bucephalandra goliath S.Y. Wong & P. C. Boyce
  14. Bucephalandra kerangas S.Y. Wong & P. C. Boyce
  15. Bucephalandra kishii S.Y. Wong & P. C. Boyce
  16. Bucephalandra magnifolia H. Okada & Y. Mori
  17. Bucephalandra micrantha S.Y. Wong & P. C. Boyce
  18. Bucephalandra minotaur S.Y. Wong & P. C. Boyce
  19. Bucephalandra motleyana Schott
  20. Bucephalandra muluensis (M. Hotta) S.Y. Wong & P. C. Boyce
  21. Bucephalandra oblanceolata (M. Hotta) S.Y. Wong & P. C. Boyce
  22. Bucephalandra oncophora S.Y. Wong & P. C. Boyce
  23. Bucephalandra pubes S.Y. Wong & P. C. Boyce
  24. Bucephalandra pygmaea (Becc.) P. C. Boyce & S.Y. Wong
  25. Bucephalandra sordidula S.Y. Wong & P. C. Boyce
  26. Bucephalandra spathulifolia Engl. ex S.Y. Wong & P. C. Boyce
  27. Bucephalandra tetana S.Y. Wong & P. C. Boyce
  28. Bucephalandra ultramafica S.Y. Wong & P. C. Boyce
  29. Bucephalandra vespula S.Y. Wong & P. C. Boyce
  30. Bucephalandra yengiae S.Y. Wong & P. C. Boyce
  31. Bucephalandra danumensis S.Y. Wong & P. C. Boyce

References

  1. ↑ Josef Seboth. Litography: O. Sommer (artist) - Genera Aroidearum exposita by Schott, Heinrich Wilhelm. Vindobonae: Typis Caroli Ueberreuter
  2. ↑ Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Yeng, Wong Sin; Boyce, Peter C. (2014-08-02). "Studies on Schismatoglottideae (Araceae) of Borneo XXX — New species and combinations for Bucephalandra" (PDF). Willdenowia. 44 (2): 149–199. doi:10.3372/wi.44.44201. ISSN 0511-9618. S2CID 86523382.
  4. ↑ Yeng, Wong Sin; Boyce, Peter C. (2014-12-05). "Studies on Schismatoglottideae (Araceae) of Borneo XXXXI: Additional new species of Bucephalandra" (PDF). Willdenowia. 44 (3): 415–421. doi:10.3372/wi.44.44312. ISSN 0511-9618. S2CID 86281226.
  5. ↑ Wong, Sin Yeng; Boyce, Peter C. "Studies on Schismatoglottideae (Araceae) of Borneo LVII: Bucephalandra filiformis – a new species from Maligan, Sarawak, Malaysian Borneo" (PDF). Aroideana. 39: 56–60 – via aroid.org.
  6. ↑ Bown, Deni (2000). Aroids: Plants of the Arum Family. Timber Press. ISBN 0-88192-485-7.
  7. ↑ Leykis, Matt (2023-11-29). "Bucephalandra Care Guide and 3 tips for INSANE Growth!". Retrieved 2023-11-29.
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