Lagenandra

Lagenandra
Lagenandra ovata (left) and
Lagenandra koenigii (right)
Lagenandra toxicaria, in Kerala, South India.
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Alismatales
Family: Araceae
Subfamily: Aroideae
Tribe: Cryptocoryneae
Genus: Lagenandra
Dalzell

Lagenandra is a genus of aquatic (to semi-aquatic) flowering plants in the aroid family, Araceae, endemic to the Indian Subcontinent (Bangladesh, India and Sri Lanka). The genus has gradually become more known through the aquascaping and aquarium hobby, in which several related Araceae genera are already highly prized and grown on a large scale (notably Anubias, Bucephalandra and Cryptocoryne); Lagenandra, however, is still relatively rare in cultivation or private collections.

The genus is visually-similar to (and, in places, sympatric with) the Cryptocoryne, but is distinguishable for its involute vernation (leaf growth); comparatively, Cryptocoryne tends to exhibit convolute vernation.