Cabomba furcata explained

Cabomba furcata is a species of aquatic plant in the water shield family known by the common names red cabomba and forked fanwort. It is native to Central and South America and as far north as Cuba and the tip of Florida. It reaches a maximum height between and is up to wide. It bears purple flowers.

Cytology

The chromosome count is 2n = 52.^[1] The chloroplast genome of Cabomba furcata is 160271 bp long.^[2]

Cultivation

This is used as an aquarium plant. Carbon dioxide addition is usually necessary, mostly because this plant requires high light and regular fertilization for optimal growth.^[3]

As an invasive species

Cabomba furcata has been reported as an invasive species in Kerala, India,^[4] in the Kalutara district of Sri Lanka,^[5] in Chini Lake, Malaysia,^[6] and Taiwan.^{[7] [8]} Its active stem propagation prevents light from penetrating the surface of water. It suffocates the water bodies, economically and ecologically hindering the growth of native aquatic plants and freshwater fish. Red cabomba requires huge quantity of oxygen, resulting in decline of biodiversity and water quality.^[9]

References

• Wiersema, J. H. (1989). A new species of Cabomba (Cabombaceae) from tropical America. Ann. Missouri Bot. Gard. 76:1167–1168.

External links

• USDA Plants Profile

Notes and References

1. Ørgaard, M. (1991), The genus Cabomba (Cabombaceae)–a taxonomic study. Nordic Journal of Botany, 11: 179-203. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1756-1051.1991.tb01819.x
2. Gruenstaeudl, M., Gerschler, N., & Borsch, T. (2018). Bioinformatic workflows for generating complete plastid genome sequences—an example from Cabomba (Cabombaceae) in the context of the phylogenomic analysis of the water-lily clade. Life, 8(3), 25.
3. Web site: Plant Finder. Aquatic Plant Central. 10 November 2016. Cabomba Furcata. 5 February 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200205014259/http://www.aquaticplantcentral.com/forumapc/plantfinder/details.php?id=107. dead.
4. Web site: Kerala's 'pink phenomenon' can choke water bodies and drains, warn scientists. 2021-01-26. www.downtoearth.org.in. en.
5. Yakandawala, D. M. D., Yakandawala, K., Madola, I., & Herath, H. M. L. K. (2022). Would history repeat? Detection of Cabomba furcata, a potential invasive plant in natural ecosystems of Sri Lanka. Ceylon Journal of Science, 51(2), 155-163.
6. Yunoh, S. M. M. (2011, December 28). Cabomba furcata (Cabombaceae). Malaysia Biodiversity Information System (MyBIS). https://www.mybis.gov.my/art/130
7. Cabomba piauhyensis 紅花穗蓴. (n.d.). 台灣植物資訊整合查詢系統. Retrieved October 3, 2024, from https://tai2.ntu.edu.tw/species/342%20002%2002%200
8. Wu, S. H., Yang, T. A., Teng, Y. C., Chang, C. Y., Yang, K. C., & Hsieh, C. F. (2010). Insights of the latest naturalized flora of Taiwan: change in the past eight years. Taiwania, 55(2), 139-159.
9. News: Invasive plants . 15 November 2022 . Red cabomba.