Anubias barteri var. caladiifolia

• Excellent plant for beginners
• Heart-shaped leaves, thrives at low light
• May be attached to pieces of rock and wood

The Caladium-leaf Anubias is native to rainforest streams of Cameroon and Nigeria, it is the biggest Anubias barteri variety. It differs from other barteri varieties by its markedly heart-shaped, up to 24 cm long leaves, otherwise it is very similar to Anubias barteri var. barteri.

As well as other Anubias, A. barteri var. caladiifolia is a robust, slowly growing epiphyte that has has low light demands. It can also be planted in the ground, however the rhizome should remain above the substrate level.

This big Anubias looks well on the hardscape of bigger aquascapes; in smaller tanks it can be used as solitary plant in the background. It is also well suited for the creation of paludariums and aqua-terrariums with the appearance of a shady streambank in the jungle.

Anubias barteri var. caladiifolia is the largest variety of the species Anubias barteri. It is found in several countries in West Africa, and similar to other varieties of A. barteri, it forms vast populations on the banks and in shallow-water zones of rapidly-flowing rivers and rivulets as well as as waterfalls in tropical rainforests. The plants are either rooted in the ground or grow attached to rocks, in sunny to shaded locations.

The leaf blades of this variety grow to a length of up to 24 cm, narrow to wide ovate, and in older plants they develop a distinctly heart-shaped basis. The leaf stalks can grow over 40 cm long, the leaf margin is smooth or slightly undulate.

Several different forms of var. caladiifolia are in cultivation. In trade you can e.g. find a plant with wide heart-shaped leaves that is carried under the name A. barteri var. caladiifolia "1705" (these numbers are used by an Australian in vitro lab).