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Crinum thaianum
Also called Thai Water Onion, Water Onion
Crinum thaianum is an emergent bulbous aquatic plant from the Amaryllis family, native to streams in southern Thailand, grown in tropical aquaria and warm ponds. The key to growing it is keeping its bulb rooted in rich substrate with leaves rising into the current or air.
Crinum thaianum, also called the Thai onion plant or water onion, or Phlap Phueng Than, is an emergent plant species, endemic to the coastal plain of Ranong and Phang Nga Provinces, Thailand. Its natural habitat is to grow along the banks of flowing, medium- to fast-running streams, where its roots and bulb are submerged in the sediment, while its leaves grow long in the current and can access fresh air at the surface. When in bloom, the flower is an umbel of large, showy blossoms above the waterline. These growth habits make it a popular addition for tropical aquaria, and it is sold in many regions to be used specifically for growth within displays of tropical fish. It also serves the added benefit of oxygenating the water and absorbing ammonia, which is toxic to most aquatic animals.
Crinum thaianum is cultivated as an aquatic ornamental to decorate aquaria. It requires water temperatures of 22–30 °C (72–86 °F) and is popular in home aquaria because it is easy to keep, tolerant of temperature swings and lighting variations, and because its leaves are tough enough to withstand the attention of herbivorous fish. Propagation is from daughter bulbs. It likes a rich substrate and additional CO2 encourages growth with space to spread and grow. It does well in a warm outside pond.
Poisonbulb · Hardy swamplily · Crinum calamistratum · Pyjama lily · Inanda Lily · Swamplily
Text excerpted from the Wikipedia article Crinum thaianum by its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0; the excerpts and the care summary drawn from them are shared under the same licence.
The care summary was written by AI (Claude, Anthropic) from the sources on this page, with general growing knowledge where they are silent. Check before relying on it.
Life form, climate and native range: World Checklist of Vascular Plants, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (CC BY 3.0), reformatted; see Plants of the World Online.
