FanwortCabomba caroliniana

By: Steven Gilio

Taxonomy

• Kingdom: Plantae• Subkingdom: Tracheobionta• Division: Magnoliophyta• Class: Magnoliopsida• Subclass: Magnoliidae• Order: Nymphaeales• Family: Cabombaceae• Genus: Cabomba• Species: Cabomba

caroliniana

Characteristics

•Perennial

•Grows from short rhizomes with fibrous roots

•Fully Submerged except for occasional floating leaves and emergent flowers

•Stems can grow up to 10m long and reach the surface

Characteristics

Flowers •Less than 2cm across•Color ranges from white to pale yellow and may also include a pink or purplish tinge.•Emerge on stalks from the tips of the stems•Bloom from May to September

•Floating LeavesTwo inches acrossDiamond-shapedInfrequent

Two types of leaves•Submersed leaves

Divided frequentlyArranged oppositely or in whorls around the stemFan-like in appearence

Distribution

Pennsylvania

Distribution in PA

Bucks County

Carbon County

Luzerne County

Crawford County

Lawrence County

Habitat

Preferred habitat:• Warm, humid climates

13-27°C (55-81°F)

• Permanent shallow waters 3-10 meters

May also be found in: •Reservoirs•Sloughs•Ditches•Canals

•Streams•Small Rivers •Ponds•Lakes

Ecological Impacts

• Outcompetes native plants Forms dense stands Crowds out well-established plants

• Effects water quality Decomposition reduces oxygen and

produces foul smelling odor

• Clogs drainage canals and freshwater streams Interferes with recreational, agricultural, and aesthetic uses

Sources of Introduction

Aquarium Plant

Hull Fouling

•Natural DispersalStem fragmentsRhizomes

•Common aquarium plant

•Hull fouling

•Other contaminated debrisBaitTranslocation of machinery

Control Measures

• Chemical Herbicides – Endothall, Fluridone

• Physical Draw down Draining

• Biocontrol Grass Carp

• Prevention Sterilization of boats and boating equipment Burning or Drying out of plants Discourage deliberate seeding of waterways for aquarium trade

The End

References

• http://www.issg.org/database/species/ecology.asp?si=402&fr=1&sts=sss

• http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=CACAC4

• http://www.invasive.org/weedcd/pdfs/wow/carolina-fanwort.pdf