Bihar Staurogyne

Staurogyne sp. 'Bihar' entered the hobby as an import from the north Indian state of Bihar, sold at first under the name Hygrophila sp. 'Bihar'. Its flower characteristics point to the genus Staurogyne, in the Acanthaceae family, and the leaves support the reading: submersed leaves are partly lobed and resemble those of Hygrophila pinnatifida. It spread through the American hobby and had been in Russian tanks for over a year by then, while the rest of Europe had probably not caught up. Growth is fast for a stem plant of this type, and care is rated medium. Light needs run from medium to high, with an optimum temperature of 22 to 28 °C and slightly acidic to neutral water, pH 5 to 7.5. Carbon dioxide is optional; without it growth slows but the plant stays manageable. Propagation is by cuttings, and established stems root quickly. Carbonate hardness can range widely, from 0 to 12 dKH, and the plant also grows emersed.