Cabomba aquatica
Species of aquatic plant
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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]
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| Cabomba aquatica | |
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Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Order: | Nymphaeales |
| Family: | Cabombaceae |
| Genus: | Cabomba |
| Species: | C. aquatica |
| Binomial name | |
| Cabomba aquatica | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
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List
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Description
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]
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]
Distribution
Ecology
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]