Anubias gigantea
A West African aroid with large arrow-shaped leaves.
Anubias gigantea is a semi-aquatic or riparian plant in the arum family, Araceae, and part of the genus *Anubias*. It was first recorded by Auguste Chevalier in 1920 from specimens he gathered in Guinea, West Africa, and was formally described by John Hutchinson in 1939. The species is very similar to *Anubias afzelii*, with the main difference being the shape of the leaf blade; mature leaves also look somewhat different from those of juvenile plants.
Synonyms for this species include *A. gigantea* var. *tripartita* (Chevalier, 1920) and *A. hastifolia* var. *robusta* (Engler, 1915).
The plant is found in West Africa, specifically in Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Ivory Coast, and Togo.
It features large, arrow-shaped leaf blades that can reach 30 cm (12 in) in length and 14 cm (6 in) in width. The leaf stems (petioles) range from slightly shorter than the blade to up to 2.5 times its length. The leaves grow from a creeping, rooting rhizome that is 1–3 cm thick. The spathe measures 3.5–8 cm (1.4–3.1 in) long and sits on a peduncle 14–60 cm (5.5–23.6 in) long. The spadix, up to 9 cm (3.5 in) long, is slightly longer than the spathe, so its tip sticks out. Its upper part bears male flowers, where 4–6 stamens are fused into synandria with thecae on the sides. The lower part of the spadix holds female flowers, reduced to just the ovary and stigma.
Ecologically, *A. gigantea* is semi-aquatic and typically grows on rocky spots along riverbanks or within riverbeds. It flowers from February to April.
In cultivation, it does best when only partly submerged and not crowded by other plants, making it well-suited for paludariums. It can also be used in larger aquariums, though it grows very slowly there. It needs little light and prefers temperatures between 22–26 °C. Propagation is possible by dividing the rhizome, and growing from seed is also straightforward.
Quick Facts
- Genus
- Anubias
- Species
- gigantea
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Anubias gigantea was first mentioned by Auguste Chevalier in 1920, based on material he collected in Guinea, West Africa. The formal description followed in 1939 by John Hutchinson. It is closely related to A. afzelii, basically only differing from that species by the form of the leaf-blade, with mature growth appearing somewhat different than the juvenile plants. Synonyms include A. gigantea var. tripartita Chevalier, 1920 and A. hastifolia var. robusta Engler, 1915.
The plant has large arrow-shaped leaf blades up to 30 cm long and 14 cm wide, with leaf stems slightly shorter to 2.5 times longer than the blade. The leaves are set on a creeping and rooting rhizome 1–3 cm thick. The spathe is 3.5–8 cm long on a peduncle 14–60 cm long. The spadix is up to 9 cm long, slightly longer than the spathe, with the tip protruding. The upper part bears male flowers with 4-6 stamens fused into synandria; the lower part has female flowers reduced to the ovary and stigma.
Ecology: The plant is semi-aquatic, growing mostly on rocky places at riverbanks or in riverbeds, and flowers from February to April. It is known from West Africa including Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Ivory Coast, and Togo.
Reader's Guide
Anubias gigantea is most suited for the paludarium, as it grows best when only partially submersed and not crowded by other plants. It can also be used in larger aquariums, where it grows very slowly. It does not require much light and prefers a temperature range of 22-26 °C. Propagation can be done by dividing the rhizome, but seed-propagation is not difficult either. The plant's large arrow-shaped leaves and slow growth make it a distinctive choice for aquascapes, though its semi-aquatic nature limits its use in fully submerged setups. Its close relation to A. afzelii and the subtle differences in leaf form highlight the botanical nuance within the genus.
Did You Know?
- Its leaf blades can be up to 30 cm long and 14 cm wide.
- The spadix tip slightly protrudes from the spathe.
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