Bucephalandra pygmaea 'Bukit Kelam': grower data and names
A small rhizome plant from Borneo that Tropica rates easy, with low light and CO2 demand and slow growth [1]. Tropica compares its use and care with Anubias: it grows on rock or wood, and the rhizome must not be buried [1].
Grower data
As published by Tropica Aquarium Plants[2]
- Light demand
- LowTropica: medium light demand is 0.5 W/L.
- CO2 demand
- LowTropica: medium need 6–14 mg/L; high approx. 15–25 mg/L.
- Growth rate
- Slow
- Difficulty
- Easy
| Type | Rhizomatous |
|---|---|
| Origin (grower) | Asia |
| Height after two months | 5 - 10+ cm |
| Placement | not published by the sources cited |
Name and range
- Accepted name
- Bucephalandra pygmaea (Becc.) P.C.Boyce & S.Y.Wong[3]
- Family
- Araceae
- Native range
- Borneo
- Records
- WCVP via GBIF and POWO
What the grower data says
Tropica rates ‘Bukit Kelam’ easy, slow-growing and low in light and CO2 demand, with a height of 5–10 cm or more after two months [2]. Its description calls it an easy, slow-growing plant that prefers lower light levels [1]. The leaves are small: about 2 cm wide and 5 cm long, with wavy edges [1].
Tropica’s own two listings do not quite agree on the name. The tissue-culture page describes the plant as ‘Bukit Kalem’, while the description on the lava-stone listing calls it ‘Wavy Green’, even though both are filed under Bucephalandra pygmaea ‘Bukit Kelam’ with the same ratings [1, 2].
Placement and planting
Tropica compares Bucephalandra directly with Anubias: in nature it usually grows on rocks or wood in rivers and streams, and it resembles Anubias in use and care in the aquarium [1]. The planting rule is the same too. The creeping stem, or rhizome, must not be covered when planting, because burying it causes the plant to rot and die [1]. Tropica sells it already grown on lava stone [2], which can be set into a layout without tying.
Neither listing names a position in the tank. At 5–10 cm with 5 cm leaves, it is a small plant; see the Anubias nana profile for a similar rhizome plant that the second grower cited on that page lists for the foreground and middle ground.
Growth
Growth is slow, but Tropica notes that the plant branches willingly even without trimming, which gives it a dense appearance over time [1]. The description also says tiny white spots “will appear on immerse leaves” [1], presented as a feature of the plant rather than a problem.
Names and taxonomy
Bucephalandra pygmaea (Becc.) P.C.Boyce & S.Y.Wong is an accepted species in the World Checklist of Vascular Plants, in the arum family Araceae [3]. Beccari first described it as Microcasia pygmaea, and the combination in Bucephalandra was published in 2012 [3]. WCVP gives its native range as Borneo only [3, 4]; Tropica’s origin field says “Asia” [2]. ‘Bukit Kelam’ is a trade name for a cultivated form, which the checklist does not list.
Questions
Can Bucephalandra be planted in the substrate?
Tropica's instruction is that the creeping stem (rhizome) must not be covered when planting, because that will cause the plant to rot and die [1].
What are the white spots on the leaves?
Tropica's description says tiny white spots will appear on the leaves [1] and does not treat them as a problem.
Similar plants
- Anubias barteri var. nana: grower data, planting and namesrhizome, epiphyte / foreground / midgroundLight: LowCO2: LowEasy
- Cryptocoryne parva: the smallest crypt, by the grower datarosette, foregroundLight: MediumCO2: LowMedium
- Java fern (Microsorum pteropus): grower data and the name changerhizome, epiphyte / midground / backgroundLight: LowCO2: LowEasy
Related guides
- CO2 & lightWhat low, medium and high light and CO2 mean in grower plant dataTropica's light and CO2 ratings, the definitions behind them, the three different CO2 bands on its own pages, and how Aquasabi's categories line up.
- Algae & problemsEmersed to submersed: why new aquarium plants change and drop leavesMost aquarium plants are grown out of water and must rebuild their leaves underwater. What the research on leaf form shows, and what to expect from pots and cups.
Compare it with the other profiled plants in the plant parameter table.
Sources
- Bucephalandra pygmaea 'Bukit Kelam' (plant details, 139TC tissue culture). Tropica Aquarium Plants. Description: grows on rocks or wood in rivers and streams, like Anubias in use and care; easy, slow, prefers lower light; branches without trimming; leaves 2 cm wide and 5 cm long with wavy edges; do not cover the rhizome. Accessed October 12, 2026.
- Bucephalandra pygmaea 'Bukit Kelam' (plant details, 139YLS on lava stone). Tropica Aquarium Plants. Type 'Rhizomatous', origin, growth, height, light, CO2 and difficulty; the description on this listing names the plant 'Wavy Green'. Accessed October 12, 2026.
- Bucephalandra pygmaea (Becc.) P.C.Boyce & S.Y.Wong: World Checklist of Vascular Plants record (via GBIF). Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; dataset published 2026-06-04, CC BY 4.0. Accepted name, family, synonyms, native and introduced range. Accessed October 12, 2026.
- Bucephalandra pygmaea: Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Addressed by IPNI identifier 77125967-1; POWO displays the same WCVP data. Accessed October 12, 2026.