Cabomba
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 Cabomba aquatica (from Lindley 1853) | ||||||||||||
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Cabomba is a waterplant genus, one of two belonging to the family Cabombaceae. It has divided submerged leaves in the shape of a fan (hence the vernacular name fanwort) and is much favoured by aquarists as an ornamental and oxygenating plant for fishtanks. Its use in the aquarium trade has led to some species being introduced to parts of the world, such as Australia, where they have become pestilential weeds.
- Species
- Cabomba aquatica Aubl. (fanwort)
- Cabomba caroliniana A. Gray ("Green Cabomba")
- Cabomba furcata Schult. & Schult. f. ("Red Cabomba")
- Cabomba haynesii Wiersema
- Cabomba palaeformis Fassett
Cabomba as an aquarium plant
Cabomba is frequently planted in aquaria, as an attractive-leaved water plant that is fast-growing (up to one inch per day). Green Cabomba (Cabomba caroliniana) is the most common, as well as the easiest aquarium subject. By contrast Red Cabomba (Cabomba furcata) is considered to be one of the hardest plants to take care of in the aquarium.
Cabomba plants in the aquarium require good light (i.e. 1.5-3 watts per gallon), and warm water temperatures (from 18°-32°C). They also benefit from regular CO2 injection and a good quality substrate that is rich in all of the macro- and micronutrients (aquarists commonly use proprietary fertilizer solutions). Cabomba may be propagated by cuttings (typically a 4 inch piece of stem), which require good light conditions to root. When kept outdoors it is hardy to Zone 5. In the fall the stems break apart into sections and sink to the bottom in spring each one sprouts as an individual plant
See also
- Aquatic plant
References
Ørgaard, M. (1991). The genus Cabomba (Cabombaceae) - a taxonomic study. Nordic Journal of Botany 11: 179-203 Fassett, N.C. 1953. A monograph of Cabomba. Castanea 13:116-128.
External links
- InvadingSpecies.com
- United States Department of Agriculture, Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN): Cabomba
- The Age of Aquariums: Cabomba page
Source: adapted by the editor from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia; from the article "Cabomba". Image Credit.
