Cabomba caroliniana var. pulcherrima is a species of perennial aquatic herb in the family Cabombaceae native to the American states Florida, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Georgia.
Cabomba caroliniana var. pulcherrima is a perennial aquatic herb with reddish-purple, 1 m long stems. Both floating and submerged leaves are produced. The submerged leaves are dark-coloured and have narrow segments. The peltate floating leaves are 1.5âÂÂ3 mm wide.
The purple flowers are 7âÂÂ10 mm long. The gynoecium consists of 3âÂÂ4 carpels.
The chromosome count is 2n = c. 78.
It was described by Roland McMillan Harper in 1903. The type specimen was collected by Harper in Georgia, USA on the 13th of August 1901. It was elevated to the species Cabomba pulcherrima by Norman Carter Fassett in 1953, but this is widely not accepted. One source regards it as a synonym of Cabomba caroliniana var. caroliniana, others regard it as a synonym of Cabomba caroliniana, and some accepted the variety as a separate taxon. Its validity needs further investigation and it has been speculated the purple colouration may be a result of environmental conditions, such as warm water conditions. The colour also is diminished in low light conditions.
The varietal name pulcherrima from the Latin pulcher means most beautiful.
It occurs in the American states Florida, South and North Carolina, and Georgia, where it occurs at low altitudes.