Fanwort (Cabomba caroliniana Gray)Family: Cabombaceae Description and Variation: Fanwort is
a submersed, floating (often rooted), perennial, with short, fragile rhizomes. The erect
shoots are upturned extensions of the horizontal rhizomes. The shoots are grass green to
olive Cabomba is a small genus of aquatic plants originating in the neotropics and adjoining warmer temperate zones. There is a great deal of vegetative similarity among the taxa, making the genus taxonomically difficult (Orgaard 1991). The line drawing of fanwort is the copyright property of the University of Florida Center for Aquatic Plants (Gainsville). Used with permission. Economic Importance: Detrimental - Fanwort is an extremely persistent and competitive plant. Under suitable environmental conditions, it can form dense stands, crowding out previously well-established plants (Riemer and Inicki 1968). Once established, this plant can clog drainage canals and freshwater streams, interfering with recreational, agricultural, and aesthetic uses. In Cullaby Lake of northwest Oregon, it has created severe nuisance conditions (Gibbons et al. 1993). Beneficial - Cabomba caroliniana is commonly used as an aquarium plant because of its delicate appearance. Large numbers of plants are sent from Florida to the rest of the United States for commercial use. Fanwort is also grown commercially in Asia for export to Europe and other parts of the world. Small-scale, local cultivation occurs in some areas. (Orgaard 1991). In its native habitat, fanwort is eaten by waterfowl and some fish. In addition, it provides cover for some small fish and plankton (Mitchell 1979 c.f. Orgaard 1991). Geographic Distribution: Cabomba caroliniana is native to the subtropic-temperate regions of eastern North and South America. C. caroliniana var. caroliniana is common in the southeastern United States, occurring from Texas to Florida, north to Massachusetts, and west to Kansas, although it is reportedly adventive northeast of Virginia (Fernald 1987). This variety also occurs in South America, including southern Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay, and northeastern Argentina. The variety has been introduced to other areas, including Malaysia, India, Japan, and New Guinea, via discarded aquarium plants (Orgaard 1991). In Washington, fanwort is only known from side channels of the Columbia River, near Longview. Fanwort also occurs in Cullaby Lake, on the northern Oregon Coast (Gibbons et al. 1993). Habitat: The species grows rooted in the mud of stagnant to slow flowing water, including streams, smaller rivers, lakes, ponds, sloughs, and ditches. In Texas, associated plants include Nymphaea odorata (fragrant water lily) and Brasenia schreberi (water shield) (Orgaard 1991). History: There is no direct evidence of how or when fanwort was introduced to Washington. The species was introduced to other parts of the world via discarded or deliberately scattered aquarium plants (Orgaard 1991), and this was the likely method of introduction in Washington, as well. Cabomba is readily available in pet stores for use as an aquarium plant in Washington. Growth, Development, and Reproduction: Fanwort is an herbaceous perennial that spreads primarily by stem fragments or rhizomes. The erect shoots are upturned extensions of horizontal rhizomes. The species forms large clones as new rhizomes and floating shoots arise as axillary branches. The rhizomes are fragile and easily broken, facilitating vegetative spread (Orgaard 1991) and transport to new water bodies. Fanwort flowers from May to September (Radford et al. 1968). In the southeastern United States, fanwort is self-pollinating and the seeds readily germinate. However seeds collected from New Jersey failed to germinate, and no seedlings have been observed in the field; therefore, reproduction by seed in New Jersey is of little or no importance (Riemer and Ilnicki 1968). No information is available on seed production and viability in Washington (Gibbons 1993). Response to Herbicides: Some reports indicate that fanwort is less sensitive to herbicides available in Washington than other aquatic plants (Gibbons 1993). Response to Cultural Methods: In the South, drawdowns have been used to reduce fanwort growth. Extreme drying is required to prevent regrowth from seed (Gibbons et al. 1993). Biocontrol Potential: Grass carp will eat fanwort, but it is not a preferred food (Gibbons et al. 1993). No research is currently underway on other biocontrol agents. References Buckingham, G.R. and C.A. Bennett. 1989. Laboratory host range of Parapynx diminutalis (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), an Asian aquatic moth adventive in Florida and Panama on Hydrilla verticillata (Hydrocharitaceae). Environmental Entomology 18:526-530. Fassett, N.C. 1953. A monograph of Cabomba. Castanea 13:116-128. Fernald, M.L. 1987. Gray's Manual of Botany. Dioscorides Press, Portland, Oregon. Gibbons, M.V., H.L. Gibbons, Jr., and M.D. Sytsma. 1994. A Citizen's Manual for Developing Integrated Aquatic Vegetation Management Plans. Washington State Department of Ecology, Olympia. Gleason, H.A. and A. Cronquist. 1991. Manual of Vascular Plants of Northeastern United States and Adjacent Canada. The New York Botanical Garden, Bronx, New York. Hotchkiss, N. 1972. Common Marsh, Underwater and Floating-leaved Plants of the United States and Canada. Dover Publications, Inc., New York. Orgaard, M. 1991. The genus Cabomba (Cabombaceae) - a taxonomic study. Nordic Journal of Botany 11:179-203. Radford, A.E., H.E. Ahles, and C.R. Bell. 1968. Vascular Flora of the Carolinas. The University of North Carolina Press, Chapel Hill. Riemer, D.N. and R.D. Ilnicki. 1968. Overwintering of Cabomba in New Jersey. Weed Science 16:101-102. Westerdahl, H.E. and K.D. Getsinger. 1988. Aquatic Plant Identification and Herbicide Use Guide. Volume II: Aquatic Plants and Susceptibility to Herbicides. Technical report A-88-9. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Washington, D.C. |
green or sometimes reddish
brown. The leaves are of two types: submersed and floating. The fan-shaped submersed
leaves are finely divided and arranged in opposite pairs on the stem. The floating
leaves (when present) are small and inconspicuous, with an alternate arrangement. The
floating leaves are less than 1/2 inch long and less than 1/4 inch wide and the leaf blade
attaches to the center, where there is a slight constriction. The flowers are white and
small (less than 1/2 inch in diameter), and they float on the water surface (Gibbons 1993;
Radford 1968; Orgaard 1991).