Top Qs
Timeline
Chat
Perspective

Cabomba aquatica

Species of aquatic plant From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Cabomba aquatica
Remove ads

Cabomba aquatica is a rhizomatous,[2] perennial,[3] aquatic herb[4] in the family Cabombaceae native to South America.[1] It occurs in fresh standing water or in lakes and rivers with slight currents.[5]

Quick Facts Scientific classification, Binomial name ...
Thumb
Cabomba aquatica growing sympatrically with Nymphaea rudgeana
Thumb
Detail of peltate floating leaves and flower
Thumb
In an aquarium
Remove ads

Description

Summarize
Perspective

Vegetative characteristics

Cabomba aquatica is a rhizomatous,[2] perennial,[3] aquatic herb[4] with green to red,[6] up to 1.5 m long stems.[7][8][9] Both submerged and floating leaves are produced.[10] The finely divided,[3] reniform, 4–5 cm long, and 6 cm wide submerged leaves are trichotomously branched.[11] The orbicular to broadly elliptic floating leaves,[12] which are produced towards the apex of the shoot,[8] with an entire margin are 5–20 mm long, and 4–15 mm wide.[13] The petiole is 9.0–55.0 mm long.[14]

Generative characteristics

The golden yellow, solitary, bisexual,[3] diurnal, incompletely protogynous, nectariferous,[15] 0.5–1.1 cm wide flower[6] extends beyond the water surface.[16][10] It has 3(–4) 3.7–3.8 mm long, and 1.4–2.1 mm wide sepals.[14] The androecium consists of (3–)6[6] bright yellow stamens[13] with 2.5–4 mm long filaments.[6] The very large, elongate, monosulcate pollen grains are 71.8–88.3 μm long, and 38.9–48.4 μm wide.[17] The gynoecium consists of 2–3(–4) carpels.[6] Each fruit bears a single oval,[12] black,[13] 2–3.5 mm long, and 1.5–2.5 mm wide seed.[18][13] The fruit develops underwater.[10]

Cytology

The chromosome count is 2n = 52.[18] The chloroplast genome of Cabomba aquatica is 159487 bp long.[19]

Remove ads

Taxonomy

It was published by Jean Baptiste Christophore Fusée Aublet in 1775.[4][20][21] It is the type species of its genus.[22]

Etymology

The specific epithet aquatica means growing in or near water.[23]

Relationship with Cabomba schwartzii

The controversial species Cabomba schwartzii is often included in Cabomba aquatica, but it may represent a separate species.[24][14] Cabomba schwartzii reportedly differs from Cabomba aquatica in the number of floral organs, yet this may be attributed to intraspecific variation.[18]

Remove ads

Distribution

It is native to the North of South America,[25] namely Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela.[1] It has been introduced to Bangladesh and Malaysia.[25][1]

Ecology

Pollination

The flowers are pollinated by bees, wasps, and flies.[15]

Habitat

It occurs in stagnant or flowing water[18] in ponds, floodplains, lakes, creeks, and swamps in bright light conditions.[24]

Use

Aquarium

It is used as an aquarium plant,[8] but it is difficult to cultivate.[26][8][16] It requires a high light intensity,[2][16] soft, slightly acidic water,[2] and temperatures of 18–26 °C.[26] Algae can be a challenge in cultivation by covering submerged leaves and damaging the plant.[10][7] Likewise, it may be harmed by fish in the aquarium,[26][27][7] or too strong water currents.[7]

Model organism

It has been explored to use Cabomba aquatica as a potential model organism for studies of early angiosperm evolution.[28]

Remove ads

References

Loading related searches...

Wikiwand - on

Seamless Wikipedia browsing. On steroids.

Remove ads