Cabomba caroliniana var. pulcherrima
A disputed aquatic herb with purple flowers and reddish stems.
This perennial aquatic herb from the family Cabombaceae grows in the southeastern United States, specifically Florida, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Georgia. Its stems can reach one meter in length and are reddish-purple. The plant produces two types of leaves: submerged leaves that are dark and finely divided, and floating leaves that are peltate and only 1.5–3 mm wide. Flowers are purple, measuring 7–10 mm long, with a gynoecium made up of three or four carpels. The chromosome number is roughly 2n = 78.
Roland McMillan Harper first described this variety in 1903, based on a specimen he collected in Georgia on August 13, 1901. In 1953, Norman Carter Fassett elevated it to full species status as *Cabomba pulcherrima*, but this reclassification is not widely accepted. Opinions on its taxonomic standing vary: some treat it as a synonym of *Cabomba caroliniana* var. *caroliniana*, others as a synonym of *Cabomba caroliniana*, and some recognize the variety as distinct. Its validity remains uncertain, and researchers have suggested that the reddish-purple coloration might stem from environmental factors like warm water, with the color fading under low light.
The varietal name *pulcherrima* comes from the Latin for “most beautiful.” The plant occurs at low altitudes across its limited range in the four listed states.
- Family
- Cabombaceae
- Native range
- Florida, South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia
- Stem length
- 1 m
- Floating leaf width
- 1.5–3 mm
- Flower length
- 7–10 mm
- Carpel count
- 3–4
- Chromosome count
- 2n = c. 78
- Described by
- Roland McMillan Harper
- Year described
- 1903
- Type specimen collector
- Roland McMillan Harper
Lore & Background
Cabomba caroliniana var. pulcherrima was described by Roland McMillan Harper in 1903, based on a type specimen he collected in Georgia, USA on the 13th of August 1901. The varietal name pulcherrima comes from the Latin pulcher, meaning 'most beautiful'. It is a perennial aquatic herb that produces both floating and submerged leaves; the submerged leaves are dark-colored with narrow segments, while the floating leaves are peltate and 1.5–3 mm wide. The stems are reddish-purple and can reach 1 m in length. The purple flowers are 7–10 mm long, and the gynoecium consists of 3–4 carpels. The chromosome count is 2n = c. 78.
Reader's Guide
The significance of Cabomba caroliniana var. pulcherrima lies in its taxonomic uncertainty and the speculation that its distinctive purple coloration may be environmentally induced. Norman Carter Fassett elevated it to the species Cabomba pulcherrima in 1953, but this is widely not accepted. One source regards it as a synonym of Cabomba caroliniana var. caroliniana, others as a synonym of Cabomba caroliniana, and some accept the variety as a separate taxon. Its validity needs further investigation, and it has been speculated that the purple color may result from warm water conditions, while the color diminishes in low light. This makes it a subject of interest for aquarists and botanists alike, as its appearance may vary with cultivation conditions. It occurs at low altitudes in its native range of Florida, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Georgia.
Did You Know?
- The varietal name pulcherrima means 'most beautiful' in Latin.
- The type specimen was collected by Roland McMillan Harper in Georgia on 13 August 1901.
- The purple coloration may be diminished in low light conditions.
More in Aquarium and Aquatic Plants, Part 3 1-24
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