Cabomba furcuta

About Cabomba furcuta:

• It is popularly called Pink Bloom due to its massive flowering.
• It is native of central and South America which was brought to Kerala as an aquarium plant and has escaped to the wild.
• It is a submerged perennial aquatic plant that grows in stagnant to slow-flowing freshwater.
• The plant has a high natural dispersal potential due to its ability to readily fragment and spread both actively and passively.
• It requires a large quantity of oxygen for its growth and will choke water bodies and drainage canals.
• It causes decline in diversity of native aquatic plants and causes economic losses by affecting yield of freshwater fishes. 

Key facts about Kole wetlands

• It is the largest brackish, humid tropical wetland ecosystem located in the state of Kerala.
• Extending from the northern bank of Chalakudy River in the south to the southern bank of Bharathapuzha River in the north
• It is situated in the central Asian Flyway of migratory birds.

Q1) What is wetland?

A wetland is a distinct ecosystem characterized by its unique combination of soil, water, and vegetation. These areas are transitional zones between aquatic and terrestrial environments and are found all over the world, from coastal regions to inland areas. Wetlands can take various forms, including marshes, swamps, bogs, and floodplains.

Source: Kole wetlands face threat of alien plants