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Cabomba caroliniana

(Carolina Fanwort, Fanwort, Fish Grass, Washington Grass)

Overview

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Aquatic Plant. C. caroliniana is a submersed freshwater perennial plant that grows in the mud of stagnant to slow flowing water , including streams , and smaller rivers , and also ponds , lakes , reservoirs , sloughs , ditches, and canals. It spreads primarily by stem fragments or rhizomes, and can form dense stands, crowding out previously well-established plants . C. caroliniana also clogs drainage canals and freshwater streams. It is commonly used as an aquarium plant and in its native habitat , C. caroliniana is eaten by waterfowl and some fish. It can be managed with the use of contact herbicides , and also by drawing water levels down and allowing affected areas to dry out. C. caroliniana is commonly used as an aquarium plant because of its delicate appearance . Large numbers of plants are sent from Florida to the rest of the U.S. for commercial use. C. caroliniana is also grown commercially in Asia for export to Europe and other parts of the world. Small-scale, local cultivation occurs in some areas. (Orgaard 1991). In its native habitat, C. caroliniana is eaten by waterfowl and some fish. In addition, it provides cover for some small fish and plankton (Mitchell 1979 c.f. Orgaard 1991)

Vulnerable
Threat status

Common Names

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Click on the language to view common names.

Common Names in English:

Carolina Fanwort, Carolina Water-Shield, Fanwort, Fish Grass, Fish-Grass, Washington Grass, Washington-Grass, Washington-Plant

Common Names in Portuguese:

Cabomba

Description

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Genus Cabomba

Herbs, young vegetative parts often with rust-colored pubescence , barely mucilaginous . Leaves submersed and floating; petiole short to long. Submersed leaves: blade in 3-7 dichotomously [trichotomously] branched, linear segments. Floating leaves: blade terminal, linear-elliptic [broadly elliptic ], margins entire or notched at base , appearing only during flowering, inconspicuous [more evident in C. aquatica, a tropical species]. Flowers: sepals 3, petaloid , obovate ; petals 3, oval , with proximal , yellow, nectar-bearing auricles , base clawed; stamens 3-6, opposite petals; pistils [1-]2-4, simple , 1-locular; ovules [1-]3[-5]; stigma capitate. Fruits elongate-pyriform, tapered to apex. Seeds ovoid [somewhat globose ], tuberculate . x = 13.

Species 5: mostly tropical regions , Western Hemisphere."Cabomba". in Flora of North America Vol. 3. Oxford University Press. Online at EFloras.org.

Physical Description

Species Cabomba caroliniana

Submersed leaves: petiole to 4 cm; leaf blade 1-3.5 × 1.5-5.5 cm, terminal segments 3-200, linear to slightly spatulate , to 1.8 mm wide. Floating leaves: blade 0.6-3 cm × 1-4 mm, margins entire or notched to sagittate at base . Flowers 6-15 mm diam.; sepals white to purplish [yellow] or with purple-tinged margins, 5-12 × 2-7 mm; petals colored as sepals but with proximal , yellow, nectar-bearing auricles , 4-12 × 2-5 mm, apex broadly obtuse or notched; stamens 3-6, mostly 6; pistils 2-4, mostly 3, divergent at maturity; ovules 3. Fruits 4-7 mm. Seeds 1-3, 1.5-3 × 1-1.5 mm, tubercles in 4 longitudinal rows . 2 n = ca. 78, ca. 104. Flowering late spring-early fall , earlier and later further south. [source]

Cabomba caroliniana, an important aquarium plant, is introduced in Oregon and probably in the northern part of its range where it is uncommon in several states. Formerly known from Kansas, it is thought to be extirpated there now. In New England and parts of southeast United States, it is sometimes an aggressive weed . In parts of the southeastern United States, plants with purple-tinted flowers, possibly a response to some environmental factor , have been treated as Cabomba caroliniana var. pulcherrima. South American plants with yellow flowers have been called C. caroliniana var. flavida O/rgaard. [source]

The submersed leaves of Cabomba caroliniana are similar in form to those of Limnophila (Scrophulariaceae; introduced in southeastern United States). The latter has whorled leaves in contrast to the opposite leaves of Cabomba. [source]

Habit: Forb/herb • Growth Form: Multiple Stem • Shape and Orientation: Prostrate

Flowers: Bloom Period: Indeterminate • Flower Color: White • Flower Conspicuous: No

Seeds: Seed per Pound: 500000 • Seed Spread Rate: Rapid • Seedling Vigor: High • Fruit/Seed Abundance: Low • Fruit/Seed Conspicuous: No • Cold Stratification Required: No

Foliage: Foliage Color: Gray-Green • Foliage Texture: Fine • Fall Conspicuous: No • Leaf Retention: No

Size/Age/Growth

Active Growth Period: Summer • Growth Rate: Rapid • After Harvest Regrowth Rate: Slow • Mature Height (feet): 0.0 • Size: 18-24" tall. • Vegetative Spread Rate: Rapid • Lifespan: Lifespan

Habitat

Acidic to alkaline ponds , lakes , pools in marshes, rivers , streams , ditches, canals, and reservoirs ; 0-300 m (Ref. 51119).

C. caroliniana grows rooted in the mud of stagnant to slow flowing water , including streams, and smaller rivers.It also grows in ponds, lakes, reservoirs, sloughs , ditches, and canals (The Washington State Department of Ecology, 2003)Cabomba is sensitive to drying out and requires permanent shallow water, usually less than 3m deep, although it can grow in water up to 10m deep producing stems that reach the surface. With the ability to grow quickly, cabomba can respond to wide fluctuations in water depths. It is a water column feeder . It grows well on silty substrates, but its vigour is reduced on hard substrates.Water quality affects the growth of cabomba. It grows well in eutrophic conditions with low pH but conditions above pH 8 tend to defoliate the stems. High calcium levels also inhibit growth. In aquaria ponds, cabomba not only grows well in water with medium turbidity , but also in waters with high turbidity. This characteristic is of concern, as turbid water usually limits the growth of aquatic weeds . Other species of cabomba, however, require more light than C. caroliniana. Cabomba can survive temperatures of less than 0 degrees C, but it prefers a warm, humid climate with a temperature range of 13-27 degrees C (Agriculture and Resource Management Council of Australia and New Zealand, Australian and New Zealand Environment and Conservation Council and Forestry Ministers, 2000).

Typically found at an altitude of 0 to 1,420 meters (0 to 4,659 feet).Mean = 104.150 meters (341.699 feet), Standard Deviation = 169.380 based on 295 observations. Altitude information for each observation from British Oceanographic Data Centre.

Biome: lakes , water courses

Ecology: C. caroliniana is an extremely persistent and competitive plant. Under suitable environmental conditions , it can form dense stands, crowding out previously well-established plants . Once established , this plant can clog drainage canals and freshwater streams , interfering with recreational, agricultural, and aesthetic uses, (The Washington State Department of Ecology, 2003).

Biology

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Reproduction

The Washington State Department of Ecology (2003) states that, "C. caroliniana is an herbaceous perennial that spreads primarily by stem fragments or rhizomes. The erect shoots are upturned extensions of horizontal rhizomes. The species forms large clones as new rhizomes and floating shoots arise as axillary branches. The rhizomes are fragile and easily broken , facilitating vegetative spread (Orgaard 1991) and transport to new water bodies."

C. caroliniana flowers from May to September. In the southeastern U.S., C. caroliniana is self-pollinating and seeds readily germinate (The Washington State Department of Ecology, 2003).

Duration: Perennial • Coppice Potential: No • Progagated by Bulbs: No • Propagated by Bare Root: No • Propagated by Container: No • Propagated by Corms: No • Propagated by Cuttings: No • Propagated by Seed: Yes • Propagated by Sod: No • Propagated by Sprigs: No • Propagated by Tubers: No • Fruit/Seed Period Begin: Spring • Fruit/Seed Period End: Fall • Fruit/Seed Persistence: No

Growth

Culture: Space 24-36" apart.

Soil: Adapted to Medium Textured: Adapted to Medium Textured Soils • Adapted to Coarse Textured Soils: Yes • Anaerobic Tolerance: High • Salinity Tolerance: None • CaCO3 Tolerance: High • Minimum pH: 5.7 • Maximum pH: 9.2 • Fertility Requirement: Medium

Sunlight: Sun Exposure: Sun to Partial Shade. • Shade Tolerance: Intermediate

Moisture: Drought Tolerance: None • Minimum Precipitation: 40 • Maximum Precipitation: 60 • Moisture Use: High

Temperature: Minimum Temperature (F): -23 • Minimum Frost Free Days: 140 • Cold Hardiness: 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11. (map)

Taxonomy

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Unambiguous Synonyms

  1. Cabomba caroliniana Gray

Notes

Publishing author : Fassett Publication : Castanea 18: 121 1953 Basionym author: (R.M.Harper)An accepted name in the RHS Horticultural Database.

Name Status: Accepted Name. Latest taxonomic scrutiny: 15-Mar-2000

Name verified on

Place of publication: Ann. Lyceum Nat. Hist. New York 4:46. 1837

Name verified on 03-Oct-1994 by ARS Systematic Botanists. Last updated: 07-Dec-2006

Similar Species

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Members of the genus Cabomba

There are approximately 22 species in this genus:

C. aquatica · C. aubletii · C. australis · C. caroliana · C. caroliniana (Carolina Fanwort) · C. caroliniana A.Gray var. caroliniana Gray · C. caroliniana var. caroliniana · C. caroliniana var. flavida (Carolina Fanwort) · C. caroliniana var. paucipartita · C. caroliniana var. pulcherrima · C. caroliniana var. pulcherrrima · C. furcata (Forked Fanwort) · C. haynesii (Fishgrass) · C. palaeformis · C. peltata · C. piauhiensis · C. piauhyensis f. albida · C. pinnata · C. pubescens · C. schwartzii · C. viridifolia · C. warmingii

Bibliography

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More Info

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Notes

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Contributors

Data Sources

Accessed through GBIF Data Portal November 21, 2007:

Identifiers

Footnotes

Last Revised: 2008-10-01