Fanwort
Cabomba caroliniana
Print Page
Send Via EmailOverview
Photo credit: ©RPS group Plc.
Cabomba caroliniana
Common names:
Habitat:
Origin and Distribution:
Impacts:
How might it get here?
Is it found in Northern Ireland?
Risk assessments
Prevent Spread:
You can help by reporting any sightings: @ the Centre for Environmental Data & Recording (CEDaR) - Or via the iRecord App.
Current Legislative Position (Listed on 03 August 2016)
Cabomba caroliniana
Common names:
- Fanwort
- Cabomba
- Carolina water shield
- Carolina fanwort
Habitat:
- Stagnant and slow flowing freshwater systems.
Description:
- Fanwort is fully submerged except for occasional floating leaves and emergent flowers. The roots grow on the bottom of water bodies and the stems can reach the surface. It is a perennial, growing from short rhizomes with fibrous roots. The branched stems can grow up to 10m long and are scattered with white or reddish-brown hairs. The underwater leaves are divided into fine branches, resulting in a feathery fan-like appearance. These leaves are about 5cm across and secrete a gelatinous mucus which covers the submerged parts of the plant. The floating leaves, however, are small, diamond-shaped, entire, and borne on the flowering branches. The solitary flowers are less than 2cm across and range in colour from white to pale yellow and may also include a pink or purplish tinge. The flowers emerge on stalks from the tips of the stems.
Origin and Distribution:
- Native to South America and also some southern states of the US.
- The species is currently invasive in North America, Australasia-Pacific, Australia and Asia.
- The species has also been recorded on sale in Britain.
Impacts:
- This species can form dense stands that crowd out well-established plants.
- Fanwort spreads primarily by stem fragments making control difficult if not impossible in some circumstance.
- Where infestation rates are high, waterways can become clogged with ecological, recreational and economic consequences.
- Drinking water can also become tainted by this species adding additional costs to treatment.
How might it get here?
- This is a popular aquarium plant. Transport and inappropriate disposal of this plant is considered the most likely route into Ireland.
Is it found in Northern Ireland?
- It is not found in Northern Ireland.
Risk assessments
Prevent Spread:
- Promote native species and biodiversity - use alternative, native plants
- Know what you are buying/growing and source native Irish seed and plants
- Do not swap plants and cuttings
- Clean plants before adding to ponds (dispose of water away from water courses)
- Follow control advice and watch out for hitchhikers - inspect new imported purchases for invasive pest and pathogens
- Clean equipment before moving between water bodies
- Never collect plants from the wild
- Safe disposal of plant material and growing media
- Report all sightings
You can help by reporting any sightings: @ the Centre for Environmental Data & Recording (CEDaR) - Or via the iRecord App.
Current Legislative Position (Listed on 03 August 2016)
- This species must not intentionally be brought into the Union; kept; bred; transported to, from or within the United Kingdom, unless for the transportation to facilities in the context of eradication; placed on the market; used or exchanged; permitted to reproduce, grown or cultivated; or released into the environment.
NIEA-ID-Guide-Cabomba-caroliniana-Carolina-Watershield-V3-Oct24