Purple Fanwort

Cabomba pulcherrima

What is Purple Fanwort?

Physical Characteristics

• Purple in color

Leaves:

Submersed:

• Opposite
• Whorled
• Short leaf stalks

Floating:

• Alternate
• Leaf blade linear or oval-shaped

Flowers:

• Single flower at end of long
• At or above water surface
• Usually 3 sepals
• Usually 3 petals
• Petals alternate with sepals
• 3-36 stamen
• Short anthers

Fruit:

• Does not open to release the seeds when ripe
• Leathery texture
• 1-3 seeded

Stem:

• Rhizomes branching
• Slender rhizomes

Where Does it Grow?

Purple fanwort can be found in lakes, ponds, and quiet streams.

Pros and Cons of Purple Fanwort

Fanwort has little known direct food value to wildlife. Submerged portions of all aquatic plants provide habitats for many micro and macro invertebrates. These invertebrates in turn are used as food by fish and other wildlife species (e.g. amphibians, reptiles, ducks, etc.). After aquatic plants die, their decomposition by bacteria and fungi provides food (called “detritus”) for many aquatic invertebrates.