Barclaya

Scientific name

Barclaya Wallich

Family

Nymphaeaceae

Similar genera

Aponogeton, Cryptocoryne

Native distribution

tropical Southeast Asia

Species cultivated

Barclaya longifolia Wall.

Adventive distribution

none

Weed status

not weedy

Habit

submersedsubmersed:
see submerged
plant (no emersedemersed:
see emergent
leaves) with tuberous cormcorm:
(n) a shortened, subterranean bulb-like stem or part of the stem, often bearing scale-like leaves
or slender rhizomerhizome:
(n) an underground stem, usually growing horizontally, from which both roots and shoots emerge directly; the thick, above-ground stem of ferns

Brief description

Perennial. Stem a cormcorm:
(n) a shortened, subterranean bulb-like stem or part of the stem, often bearing scale-like leaves
or elongate rhizomerhizome:
(n) an underground stem, usually growing horizontally, from which both roots and shoots emerge directly; the thick, above-ground stem of ferns
. Leaves in rosettes along rhizomerhizome:
(n) an underground stem, usually growing horizontally, from which both roots and shoots emerge directly; the thick, above-ground stem of ferns
, petiolatepetiolate:
(adj) relating to or in the form of a petiole; bearing petioles
; leaf bladeblade:
(n) (syn. lamina) the flat, expanded part of a leaf, frond, or petal (excluding, e.g., the petiole)
oblongoblong:
(adj) two to four times longer than wide, with +/- parallel sides
(orbicularorbicular:
(adj) circular in outline
in B. motleyi Hook. f.), red-brownish or green; marginmargin:
(n) edge; rim
entire, undulateundulate:
(adj) (of, e.g., a margin) with a wavy surface; wavy in the vertical (up and down) plane
. Flower borne on elongate petiolepetiole:
(n) the stalk of a leaf
, either open and emergentemergent:
(adj) (syn. emersed) with parts raised out of the water; extending up out of the water
or remaining submersedsubmersed:
see submerged
and closed; sepals 5; petals 8-10, red. Fruit contains numerous spiked orbicularorbicular:
(adj) circular in outline
seeds. Dispersal primarily by seed. Plant undergoes periodic resting stages.

Natural habitat

ponds and streams

Additional comments

Barclaya contains just two species. Barclaya longifolia is well established in the aquarium hobby and readily propogates by seed. Barclaya motleyi Hook.f. is much more demanding and is not cultivated for aquaria.