Cabomba furcata

Cabomba furcata
Flowers
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Order:	Nymphaeales
Family:	Cabombaceae
Genus:	Cabomba
Species:	C. furcata
Binomial name
Cabomba furcata Schult. & Schult.f. (1830)
Synonyms[1]
Nectris furcata (Schult. & Schult.f.) Leandro ex Steud. Cabomba piauhiensis Gardner Cabomba pubescens Ule Cabomba warmingii Casp.

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 30 and 80 centimetres (12 and 31 in) and is up to 8 centimetres (3.1 in) wide. It bears purple flowers.

Cytology

The chromosome count is 2n = 52.[2] The chloroplast genome of Cabomba furcata is 160271 bp long.[3]

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.[4]

As an invasive species

Cabomba furcata has been reported as an invasive species in Kerala, India,[5] in the Kalutara district of Sri Lanka,[6] in Chini Lake, Malaysia,[7] and Taiwan.[8][9] Its active stem propagation prevents light from penetrating the surface of water.^[dubious – discuss] 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.[10]

References

1. "Cabomba furcata Schult. & Schult.f." Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
2. 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
3. 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.
4. "Cabomba Furcata". Plant Finder. Aquatic Plant Central. Archived from the original on 5 February 2020. Retrieved 10 November 2016.
5. "Kerala's 'pink phenomenon' can choke water bodies and drains, warn scientists". www.downtoearth.org.in. Retrieved 2021-01-26.
6. 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.
7. Yunoh, S. M. M. (2011, December 28). Cabomba furcata (Cabombaceae). Malaysia Biodiversity Information System (MyBIS). https://www.mybis.gov.my/art/130
8. 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
9. 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.
10. "Invasive plants". Retrieved 15 November 2022.

• 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