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By Jennifer Noel Recently the plant known as Cabomba caroliniana or fanwort has been found in Kasshabog Lake. Fanwort is a submerged perennial plant of the Water lily family that is native to the subtropical temperate regions of North and South America. It is found naturally along the coastal plain from Virginia to South Florida, West to Texas and North to Oklahoma, Illinois and Tennessee. This plant is different than the natural vegetation. It has distinct underwater fan-shaped leaves that are finely divided and arranged opposite along the stem. The leaves are bright to olive green to reddish brown and the stem can reach up to two meters in length.
Fanwort is generally found in mildly acidic areas of stagnant to slow moving water such as shallow lakes and bays. You will notice this plant’s small, yellow centered white flowers accompanied by small floating leaves from July to Oct. Seed production is rare and is presently being examined in this region in order to determine appropriate methods of control.
Over the past summer the Kasshabog Lake Residents’ Association has been a partner in a project that should help prevent fanwort from surprising the residents of other Ontario lakes and that should also help in its control once it does become established. The project involves researchers with Watershed Science Centre at Trent University and strong support from the Ministry of Natural Resources. One aspect of the study was to document the spread within the lake and downstream as dense stands have been found to exist in the North River far from the lake. Another aspect of the study was to document the abundance and density of the plant, so that these can be compared with other locations where the plant exists naturally or where it is causing problems. We are interested in the biology of fanwort, mainly reproduction and growth as well as over-wintering ability of the plant. Water quality and sediment conditions in areas with and without plants is also important for evaluating the impact of fanwort on Kasshabog Lake. This study is scheduled to conclude in 2003, although preliminary findings should be available before. Residents of the lake may have noticed that several bays have been staked out with plastic buoys. These are the fixed sampling stations for the study. Please do not disturb the buoys or the conditions underwater around them. Also fee free to ask me questions when I am working out and around the lake. Questions? Contact: Dr. Tom Whillans
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Literature
suggest that lateral extensions or plant fragments are the more likely
method of dispersal. It has been documented that any stem with a single
pair of expanded leaves can produce a mature individual. That is why it
is very important not to venture in areas of the lake that contain this
plant. Simply moving through water with your boat motor or dropping your
anchor can potentially cause the spread of this plant not only in other
parts of the lake but to other lakes downstream. There are various bays
on Kasshabog Lake that contain high concentrations of fanwort and should
be avoided if possible (See map on page 3). 