Cabomba caroliniana var. flavida
An aquatic herb with pale yellow flowers, endangered in the wild.
Cabomba caroliniana var. flavida is an aquatic herb found naturally in Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay. Its shoots are green or occasionally reddish brown. The flowers are pale yellow, measuring 6–15 mm across and 6–12 mm long, with six stamens and three carpels. Seeds are oblong-elliptic, 1.2–1.5 mm wide and 2–3 mm long. The plant has a chromosome count of 2n = 39, or about 78. It was formally described by Marian Ørgaard in 1991, based on a type specimen collected in Corrientes, Argentina. The varietal name *flavida* comes from the Latin *flavum*, meaning yellow. Its range includes Paraguay (Central, San Pedro), Argentina (Corrientes, Santa Fe), and Brazil (Paraná, Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina). The plant is considered endangered. It may be used in aquariums, sometimes sold under the name *Cabomba australis*, and is noted for being less vigorous or invasive than *Cabomba caroliniana* var. *caroliniana*. While some sources treat it as a synonym of *Cabomba caroliniana*, others accept it as a distinct variety.
- Native range
- Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay
- Flower width
- 6–15 mm
- Flower length
- 6–12 mm
- Stamens
- 6
- Carpels
- 3
- Seed width
- 1.2–1.5 mm
- Seed length
- 2–3 mm
- Chromosome count
- 2n = 39, c. 78
- Described by
- Marian Ørgaard
- Year described
- 1991
Lore & Background
Cabomba caroliniana var. flavida was described by Marian Ørgaard in 1991, based on a type specimen collected by L.Z. Adhumada, A. Shinini, and S.G. Tressens in Corrientes, Argentina. The varietal name flavida derives from the Latin flavum, meaning yellow, referring to the flower color. The plant has green or sometimes reddish brown shoots, and its pale yellow flowers are 6–15 mm wide and 6–12 mm long, with 6 stamens and 3 carpels. The seeds are oblong-elliptic, 1.2–1.5 mm wide and 2–3 mm long. Its chromosome count is 2n = 39, c. 78. One source treats it as a synonym of Cabomba caroliniana, but it is accepted by other sources.
Reader's Guide
Cabomba caroliniana var. flavida is an endangered aquatic herb native to Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay, specifically recorded in Paraguay (Central, San Pedro), Argentina (Corrientes, Santa Fe), and Brazil (Paraná, Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina). It may find use as an aquarium plant and has been found in cultivation under the name Cabomba australis. Its significance lies in its less vigorous or invasive growth compared to Cabomba caroliniana var. caroliniana, making it a potentially more manageable option for aquarists. The taxonomic uncertainty—being treated as a synonym of Cabomba caroliniana by some sources but accepted by others—highlights ongoing botanical debate. Its endangered status underscores the need for conservation attention in its native habitats.
More in Aquarium and Aquatic Plants, Part 3 1-24
Spotted an error? Know more?
Reader corrections go straight into our review queue. Suggest an edit · How this site is sourced