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Carolina Fanwort produces white flowers and has small, elliptical leaves near the water's surface. Photo by Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut, Bugwood.org.

Carolina Fanwort

COMMON NAME:

Carolina fanwort

SCIENTIFIC NAME:

Cabomba caroliniana

ORIGIN:

Southeast United States

DESCRIPTION:

Carolina fanwort is a submerged, rooted perennial with two types of leaves. The submerged leaves are opposite, fan-shaped, deeply dissected and about 2 in. wide while the small floating leaves are entire and elliptic in shape. Stems can be up to 6.5 ft long. Small, white flowers with yellow or pink centers, emerge in late summer. Reproduction occurs vegetatively through fragmentation and by seed.

ECOLOGY
RESOURCES
DISTRIBUTION

HABITAT:

Native to the southern United States, and a popular aquarium plant, Carolina fanwort is regionally invasive and found in 3-10 ft. of water. Carolina fanwort prefers lakes and ponds, but can also be found in slow-moving rivers and streams.

THREAT:

Carolina fanwort forms extremely dense stands that clog drainage systems and waterways, interfering with recreational activities and causing economic damage. Dense stands also negatively impact native biodiversity, displacing native plants and altering habitats through changes in oxygen levels and pH.

MANAGEMENT:

Clean, drain, dry prevention methods are ideally suited to stop the spread of this species. Once established, small infestations can be controlled through manual removal. Mechanical removal, water level manipulation and herbicide application have been tried in the northeast with limited success, making prevention all the more important.

WNY PRISM PRIORITY:

Tier 1 - Raise Awareness
NYS Invasive Species Tiers Chart - Tier Definitions

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:

NYS Prohibited and Regulated Species - Part 575:

Carolina fanwort is a prohibited species in New York State – for more information on Prohibited and Regulated Species, visit http://www.dec.ny.gov/animals/99141.html.

PATHWAYS OF INVASION:

Carolina fanwort was likely introduced in its invasive range the improper disposal of aquarium contents. Its ability to reproduce vegetatively also allows it to spread on improperly cleaned water equipment.

REGIONAL DISTRIBUTION:

Carolina fanwort is not currently within the WNY PRISM region, but can be found in Pennsylvania.

MAP (via iMapInvasives):

This map shows confirmed observations (green points) submitted to the NYS Invasive Species Database. Absence of data does not necessarily mean absence of the species at that site, but that it has not been reported there. For more information, please visit iMapInvasives.