Advances in Zoology and Botany Vol. 12(2), pp. 127 - 137
DOI: 10.13189/azb.2024.120205
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Bifurcation of Cryptocoryne Spiralis Species Based on Habitat Variations

Santhosh Kumar Rajamani ^1,*, Radha Srinivasan Iyer ^2
1 MAEER MIT Pune's MIMER Medical College and DR. BSTR Hospital, Talegaon D, Pune, Maharashtra, India
² SEC Centre for Independent Living, Naigaon, Pune, MH, India

ABSTRACT

The subspecies or variety classification of Cryptocoryne spiralis is of great difficulty, caused by large variability in leaf and flower morphology. There is evidence in the literature on Cryptocoryne spiralis species that the extant description of the species is an amalgamation of two (or even more) different ecotypes, which is strengthened by reports of Allopolyploidy, and varying number of Chromosomes as reported by different cytologists, a rare phenomenon in the family Araceae. After extensive study of this species in its natural habitats of western India and cultivation, based on ecotypes, we propose to bifurcate this Species into two, Plaudis and Aquatica ecotypes based on observed significant differences in characteristics. Plaudis, Ephemeral, lacustrine and wetland ecotype which cannot thrive in Aquarium, does not grow well in any artificial conditions, has spurt growth pattern in torrential Konkan rain and becomes dormant in hot summers. Aquatica is riverine, rheophyte, perennial, aquatic ecotype, grows well in Aquarium, frequently flowering and fruiting, rapid germination of seeds and no observable dormancy period. These differences in traits are statistically significant at a p value of 0.05 (95% confidence interval). This study is morphological observations only and not on chromosome and DNA studies.

KEYWORDS
Cryptocoryne Spiralis, Cryptocoryne Retrospiralis, Taxonomy, Ecotypes

Cite This Paper in IEEE or APA Citation Styles
(a). IEEE Format:
[1] Santhosh Kumar Rajamani , Radha Srinivasan Iyer , "Bifurcation of Cryptocoryne Spiralis Species Based on Habitat Variations," Advances in Zoology and Botany, Vol. 12, No. 2, pp. 127 - 137, 2024. DOI: 10.13189/azb.2024.120205.

(b). APA Format:
Santhosh Kumar Rajamani , Radha Srinivasan Iyer (2024). Bifurcation of Cryptocoryne Spiralis Species Based on Habitat Variations. Advances in Zoology and Botany, 12(2), 127 - 137. DOI: 10.13189/azb.2024.120205.