Cabomba haynesii
Aquatic plant with dissected leaves and floating flowers.
Cabomba haynesii, a member of the water-shield family Cabombaceae, grows in the Caribbean, Central America, and South America. This aquatic herb has long, branching stems that rise from rhizomes, bearing both submerged and floating leaves. Its submerged leaves are dissected, arranged opposite one another on short stalks, and measure 0.5–0.9 cm long by 1.4–1.8 cm wide; the hairless leaf stalks themselves are only 0.5–0.8 mm long. Stems range from green to red, with red papillae at the nodes, and contain two vascular bundles. Flowers, which float on or rise above the water surface, are pinkish-purple to white, 1–1.5 cm wide, and sit on pedicels 1.5–1.8 cm long. Each flower has three (or sometimes five) stamens and one to three carpels, with petal bases that are auriculate. The oblong to ovoid seeds measure 1.8–2.5 mm long and 1–2 mm wide. First described in 1953 by Norman Carter Fassett as *Cabomba piauhiensis* f. *albida*, it was later recognized as a distinct species, *Cabomba haynesii*, by John Harry Wiersema in 1989. The type specimen was collected on February 8, 1973, from the Chagres River in Gamboa, Panama, by J. Steiner, C. von Chong, and H. Kennedy. Some researchers suspect the plant may be a hybrid between *Cabomba palaeformis* and *Cabomba furcata*. Its specific epithet honors botanist Robert R. Haynes. In Brazil, it inhabits seasonally flooded lagoons and temporary or permanent still waters, occasionally tolerating slightly brackish conditions. The NatureServe conservation status for this species is G5 Secure.
Quick Facts
- Genus
- Cabomba
- Species
- haynesii
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Cabomba haynesii was first described as Cabomba piauhiensis f. albida by Norman Carter Fassett in 1953. Later, John Harry Wiersema described it as a new species, Cabomba haynesii, in 1989. The type specimen was collected by J. Steiner, C. von Chong, and H. Kennedy in the Chagres River in Gamboa, Panama on the 8th of February 1973. The specific epithet haynesii honors Robert R. Haynes.
Vegetatively, it is a rhizomatous, long-stemmed herb with both submerged and floating leaves. The stems are pilose, green to red, with red papillae at the nodes and two vascular bundles. The submerged leaves are dissected, oppositely arranged, petiolate, and measure 0.5-0.9 cm long by 1.4-1.8 cm wide, with glabrous petioles 0.5-0.8 mm long. The flowers are pinkish-purple to white, 1-1.5 cm wide, with pedicels 1.5-1.8 cm long, and float on or extend beyond the water surface. The petals have an auriculate base. Flowers have 3 (5) stamens and (1–) 2 (–3) carpels. Seeds are oblong to ovoid, 1.8-2.5 mm long and 1-2 mm wide.
It has been speculated that Cabomba haynesii may be a result of a hybridisation event involving Cabomba palaeformis and Cabomba furcata. In Brazil, it is found in seasonally flooded lagoons, or in temporary or permanent standing bodies of water, and can occur in slightly brackish water.
Reader's Guide
Cabomba haynesii is significant as a distinct species within the Cabombaceae family, recognized for its unique morphology and potential hybrid origin. Its description as a new species by Wiersema in 1989, based on a type specimen collected in Panama in 1973, highlights its relatively recent taxonomic recognition. The plant's dissected submerged leaves and floating flowers make it visually distinctive among aquatic plants. Its conservation status is G5 Secure, indicating it is not currently at risk. The speculation that it may be a hybrid between Cabomba palaeformis and Cabomba furcata adds to its botanical interest, though this remains unconfirmed. Its habitat in seasonally flooded lagoons and standing bodies of water, including slightly brackish conditions, suggests adaptability. The species is named after Robert R. Haynes, reflecting the tradition of honoring botanists in nomenclature. For aquarists, its submerged foliage and floating blooms could offer aesthetic value, though specific cultivation requirements are not detailed in the source. Its presence in the Caribbean, Central America, and South America underscores its tropical distribution.
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