Anubias gigantea facts for kids

Anubias gigantea is a type of plant from the Araceae family. It was first talked about by Auguste Chevalier in 1920. Later, John Hutchinson officially described it for science in 1939. This plant is very similar to Anubias afzelii, mostly differing in the shape of its leaves.

What is Anubias gigantea?

Anubias gigantea is a large plant known for its impressive leaves. It grows in wet, rocky areas near rivers. This plant is often used in aquariums and paludariums because it can grow partly or fully underwater.

Other Names for the Plant

Sometimes, plants get different names that are not officially accepted. For Anubias gigantea, some older names like A. gigantea var. tripartita and A. hastifolia var. robusta are now considered the same plant.

Where Does It Grow?

This plant is native to West Africa. You can find it in countries such as Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Ivory Coast, and Togo. It loves to grow in wet spots along riverbanks or even right in the riverbed.

What Does It Look Like?

Anubias gigantea has big, arrow-shaped leaves. These leaves can grow up to 30 cm (12 in) long and 14 cm (5.5 in) wide. The stems that hold the leaves are usually shorter than the leaf itself.

The plant grows from a thick, creeping stem called a rhizome. This rhizome can be 1–3 cm (0.39–1.18 in) thick and helps the plant spread.

Flowers of Anubias gigantea

The plant produces a special flower structure. It has a leaf-like part called a spathe, which is 3.5–8 cm (1.4–3.1 in) long. This spathe wraps around a central spike called a spadix. The spadix can be up to 9 cm (3.5 in) long. It's a bit longer than the spathe, so its tip often pokes out.

• The top part of the spadix has male flowers. These flowers have 4 to 6 stamens that are joined together.
• The bottom part of the spadix has female flowers. These flowers are simpler, with just an ovary and a stigma.
• Anubias gigantea typically flowers from February to April.

How to Grow Anubias gigantea

This plant is popular for growing in water environments. It's quite easy to care for, especially if you know a few tips.

Ideal Growing Conditions

• Water Level: It grows best when it's only partly underwater.
• Space: Make sure it has enough room and isn't too crowded by other plants.
• Best Use: It's perfect for a paludarium, which is like a terrarium with a water section. It can also be used in larger aquariums, but it grows very slowly there.
• Light: This plant doesn't need a lot of light, making it a good choice for beginners.
• Temperature: It prefers water temperatures between 22 to 26 °C (72 to 79 °F).

How to Make More Plants

You can easily grow new Anubias gigantea plants in two ways:

• Dividing the Rhizome: You can cut the creeping rhizome into pieces. Each piece can then grow into a new plant.
• From Seed: Growing new plants from seeds is also quite simple for this species.