| Cabomba aquatica | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Order: | Nymphaeales |
| Family: | Cabombaceae |
| Genus: | Cabomba |
| Species: | C. aquatica |
| Binomial name | |
| Cabomba aquatica | |
| Synonyms [1] | |
List
| |
Cabomba aquatica is a rhizomatous, [2] perennial, [3] aquatic herb [4] in the family Cabombaceae native to South America. [1] It occurs in fresh standing water or in lakes and rivers with slight currents. [5]
Cabomba aquatica is a rhizomatous, [2] perennial, [3] aquatic herb [4] with green to red, [6] up to 1.5 m long stems. [7] [8] [9] Both submerged and floating leaves are produced. [10] The finely divided, [3] reniform, 4–5 cm long, and 6 cm wide submerged leaves are trichotomously branched. [11] The orbicular to broadly elliptic floating leaves, [12] which are produced towards the apex of the shoot, [8] with an entire margin are 5–20 mm long, and 4–15 mm wide. [13] The petiole is 9.0–55.0 mm long. [14]
The golden yellow, solitary, bisexual, [3] diurnal, incompletely protogynous, nectariferous, [15] 0.5–1.1 cm wide flower [6] extends beyond the water surface. [16] [10] It has 3(–4) 3.7–3.8 mm long, and 1.4–2.1 mm wide sepals. [14] The androecium consists of (3–)6 [6] bright yellow stamens [13] with 2.5–4 mm long filaments. [6] The very large, elongate, monosulcate pollen grains are 71.8–88.3 µm long, and 38.9–48.4 µm wide. [17] The gynoecium consists of 2–3(–4) carpels. [6] Each fruit bears a single oval, [12] black, [13] 2–3.5 mm long, and 1.5–2.5 mm wide seed. [18] [13] The fruit develops underwater. [10]
The chromosome count is 2n = 52. [18] The chloroplast genome of Cabomba aquatica is 159487 bp long. [19]
It was published by Jean Baptiste Christophore Fusée Aublet in 1775. [4] [20] [21] It is the type species of its genus. [22]
The specific epithet aquatica means growing in or near water. [23]
The controversial species Cabomba schwartzii is often included in Cabomba aquatica, but it may represent a separate species. [24] [14] Cabomba schwartzii reportedly differs from Cabomba aquatica in the number of floral organs, yet this may be attributed to intraspecific variation. [18]
It is native to the North of South America, [25] namely Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela. [1] It has been introduced to Bangladesh and Malaysia. [25] [1]
The flowers are pollinated by bees, wasps, and flies. [15]
It occurs in stagnant or flowing water [18] in ponds, floodplains, lakes, creeks, and swamps in bright light conditions. [24]
It is used as an aquarium plant, [8] but it is difficult to cultivate. [26] [8] [16] It requires a high light intensity, [2] [16] soft, slightly acidic water, [2] and temperatures of 18–26°C. [26] Algae can be a challenge in cultivation by covering submerged leaves and damaging the plant. [10] [7] Likewise, it may be harmed by fish in the aquarium, [26] [27] [7] or too strong water currents. [7]
It has been explored to use Cabomba aquatica as a potential model organism for studies of early angiosperm evolution. [28]
