Cabomba caroliniana var. caroliniana

Lore & Background

Cabomba caroliniana var. caroliniana is an autonym, meaning its varietal name repeats the species name. Some sources regard the variety Cabomba caroliniana var. pulcherrima as synonymous to this variety. The varietal name caroliniana means 'from the Carolinas.' The plant has green to reddish brown, branched stems up to 10 m long and 1–2 mm wide. Its submerged leaves are petiolate, fan-shaped, dichotomously or trichotomously divided with slim, linear lamina segments, reaching 6–7 cm wide. Floating leaves, when present, are relatively few, narrowly elliptic, peltate, and green, measuring 5–20 mm long and 1–3 mm wide; they may be absent entirely.

Reader's Guide

Cabomba caroliniana var. caroliniana is notable as an ornamental plant cultivated in aquaria and ponds. Its flowers are solitary, pedicellate, white, 6–15 mm wide, and float on the water surface or extend 2–4 cm above it. The flowers have three white or cream sepals (5–12 mm long, 2–7 mm wide) and three white or cream petals (4–12 mm long, 2–5 mm wide). The androecium consists of six stamens with 4 mm long filaments, and the gynoecium consists of 2–4 carpels. The fruit bears ellipsoid-oblong to ovate seeds 1.5–3 mm long and 1–1.5 mm wide. The plant is insect-pollinated. It is native to Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Mexico, Paraguay, Uruguay, and the USA, and has been introduced to many regions including Australia, China, Japan, New Zealand, and several European countries. Its chromosome count is 2n = ca. 78 or ca. 104.

Did You Know?

• The flowers are insect-pollinated.
• It has been introduced to at least 20 countries outside its native range.