Cabomba Explained

Cabomba is an aquatic plant genus, one of two belonging to the family Cabombaceae. It has divided submerged leaves in the shape of a fan (hence the vernacular name fanwort) and is much favoured by aquarists as an ornamental and oxygenating plant for fish tanks. One species, Cabomba caroliniana, is a nationally declared weed in Australia, where it has choked up waterways after escaping from aquaria.

Taxonomy

It was published by Jean Baptiste Christophore Fusée Aublet in 1775. The type species is Cabomba aquatica Aubl.

Species

The genus Cabomba Aubl. consists of six species:[1]

Flowers and reproduction

The perianth of Cabomba is either trimerous (having members in each whorl in groups of three) or dimerous (in groups of two) with white, oval-shaped petals, and is usually about 2cm (01inches) across when fully developed. The petals are unlike the sepals in that the former have two yellow ear-shaped nectaries at the base. Petals may also have purplish edges. Flowers are protogynous, having primarily female sexual structures on the first day of appearance and then switching to male on the second and subsequent days. Flowers emerge and are designed to be pollinated above the waterline. Principal pollinators are flies and other small flying insects.[2]

Putative hybridisation

It has been speculated, that Cabomba haynesii may be a result of a putative hybridisation event involving Cabomba palaeformisand Cabomba furcata.[3]

Cabomba as an aquarium plant

Cabomba species are popular aquarium plants.[4] Cabomba caroliniana is easily cultivated and is tolerant of various substrates and temperatures. However, in dimly lit conditions the leaves grow small and the internodes of the stems elongate.[5] By contrast, Cabomba furcata is considered to be difficult to cultivate in the aquarium, as it requires soft, acid water and a high light intensity.[6] [7] [8]

Invasive species

Use in the aquarium trade has led to some species being introduced to other parts of the world, such as Australia, where Cabomba caroliniana it is a nationally declared weed.[9] Having arrived in 1967, it spread rapidly in waterways and out-competed native plants, threatening water supplies, especially along the eastern side of the continent.[10] In Australia, the cabomba weevil (Hydrotimetes natans) is introduced to waterways as a means of biological control of Cabomba caroliniana.[11] They consume the plant's tips and inflict significant harm when present in large quantities. Larvae burrow within the stems and result in substantial damage to the main stem due to tissue necrosis.[12]

Likewise, Cabomba furcata has become an invasive species in Kerala, India,[13] [14] in the Kalutara district of Sri Lanka,[15] in Chini Lake, Malaysia,[16] and Taiwan.[17] [18] Its presence leads to a decline of water quality and biodiversity.[19]

References

External links

Notes and References

  1. 27990-1 . Cabomba Aubl. . 12 January 2024.
  2. Book: Klaus Kubitzki. Jens G. Rohwer. Volker Bittrich. Flowering Plants · Dicotyledons: Magnoliid, Hamamelid and Caryophyllid Families. 28 July 1993. Springer Science & Business Media. 978-3-540-55509-4. 159.
  3. Wilson . Claire E . Darbyshire . Stephen J . Jones . Rosita . 2007-07-01 . The Biology of Invasive Alien Plants in Canada. 7. Cabomba caroliniana A. Gray . Canadian Journal of Plant Science . en . 87 . 3 . 615–638 . 10.4141/P06-068 . 0008-4220.
  4. Book: Zernecke, E. . Leitfaden für Aquarien- und Terrarienfreunde: Im Auftrage des "Triton" Verein für Aquarien- und Terrarienkunde zu Berlin . 1897 . G. Schmidt . de.
  5. Book: Bade, Ernst . Das Süsswasser-Aquarium: Geschichte, Flora und Fauna des Süsswasser-Aquariums, seine Anlage und Pflege . 1896 . F. Pfenningstorff . de.
  6. Web site: Die Gegabelte Haarnixe - Cabomba furcata . 2024-10-25 . Aquarium Ratgeber . de-DE.
  7. Web site: Cabomba furcata - Red Cabomba . 2024-10-25 . Flowgrow . en.
  8. Web site: How to grow Cabomba furcata . 2024-10-25 . The 2Hr Aquarist . en.
  9. Web site: Cabomba (Cabomba caroliniana) . NSW WeedWise . 24 January 2020 . 13 July 2023.
  10. Web site: Nichols . Jennifer . Cabomba weevil unleashed on weed-infesting Australian waterways . . 10 July 2023 . 12 July 2023.
  11. Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry. (2023, May 9). Hydrotimetes natans for the biological control of Cabomba caroliniana. Retrieved October 2, 2023, from https://www.agriculture.gov.au/biosecurity-trade/policy/risk-analysis/biological-control-agents/risk-analyses/completed-risk-analyses/ra-release-hydrotimetes-natans
  12. Kumaran, N., Vance, T. J., Comben, D., Dell, Q., Oleiro, M. I., Goñalons, C. M., ... & Raghu, S. (2022). "Hydrotimetes natans as a suitable biological control agent for the invasive weed Cabomba caroliniana." Biological Control, 169, 104894.
  13. Web site: 2020-12-04 . 'Bloom of pink' spotted on lake in Kerala turns out to be major threat to aquatic system . 2024-10-25 . The New Indian Express . en.
  14. Web site: Shaji . K. A. . 2020-12-15 . Kerala's 'pink phenomenon' can choke water bodies and drains, warn scientists . 2024-10-25 . Down To Earth . en.
  15. 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.
  16. Yunoh, S. M. M. (2011, December 28). Cabomba furcata (Cabombaceae). Malaysia Biodiversity Information System (MyBIS). https://www.mybis.gov.my/art/130
  17. Web site: Cabomba piauhyensis 紅花穗蓴 . 2024-10-25 . 台灣植物資訊整合查詢系統 . zh-TW.
  18. 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.
  19. Rao, G. P., & Rani, K. S. A report on the biological invasion of alien plant species red Cabomba in the Kozhikode district of Kerala state and its impact on agro-ecosystem. Issues in Biodiversity Conservation and Management, 103.

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