Cabombaceae

The Cabombaceae are a family of aquatic, herbaceous flowering plants. A common name for its species is water shield. The family is recognised as distinct in the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group IV system (2016). The family consists of two genera of aquatic plants, Brasenia and Cabomba, totalling six species.

==Description== thumb|Submerged leaf of Cabomba caroliniana A.Gray with scale bar (2 cm) on a white background ===Vegetative characteristics=== Cabombaceae are perennial, rhizomatous, aquatic herbs with slender, branched rhizomes and adventitious roots. The leaves are whorled, alternate, or opposite. Both floating and submerged leaves are produced. ===Generative characteristics=== The solitary, pedunculate, bisexual, chasmogamous, actinomorphic, inodorous flowers float on the water surface or extend beyond it. The gynoecium consists of (1–)2–18 free carpels. The indehiscent, follicle-like or achene-like fruit bears 1–3 seeds.