Giant Salvinia
Image Credit: Keith Bradley, Botanist/Conservation Biologist, Bugwood.org
Giant Salvinia
Giant salvinia (Salvinia molesta) is currently invading waterbodies in the Southeastern U.S. and has the potential to rapidly invade and infest Florida’s ponds, lakes, and rivers. It has already caused severe economic and environmental problems in Texas and Louisiana. Giant salvinia is a free-floating aquatic fern that is most easily recognizable by its rows of hairs with four branches that join at the tip creating an egg-beater appearance. It forms floating mats that shade and crowd out native plants reducing oxygen content and degrading water quality for fish and other aquatic organisms. Thick mats can affect navigation and recreational activities. Giant salvinia is on the Federal Noxious Weed List and is prohibited in Florida. This species is part of the Early Detection Rapid Response program. If you see this plant in the wild, please report it immediately.
Common Name: Giant Salvinia
Species Name: Salvinia molesta
Habit: An aquatic free-floating fern. Leaves can have variations in leaf shape and form due to habitat conditions. All will have arching hairs that connect at the tips that look like eggbeaters.
Origin: Northern Argentina and Southeastern Brazil
Counties Confirmed: Gadsden, Escambia, Collier, Hillsborough, Bay, Alachua, Marion
Description: Giant salvinia grows rapidly to cover the surface of lakes and streams, spreading aggressively by vegetative fragments. Floating leaves can grow between 0.5 to 1.5 inches long and be green, gold, or brown.
Habitat: Lakes, rivers
Comments: New giant salvinia infestations have been found in Florida and due to intensive management efforts have not been able to establish and spread.
Additional Links
Call to Action
What can you do to help protect Florida waters?
Report giant salvinia sightings! Call the FWC Invasive Plant Management office at 1-850-617-9430
Do not plant or transport giant salvinia. It is prohibited in the United States by Federal law.
Clean, drain, and dry all gear completely before entering another water body. It is easier and much cheaper to prevent an invasive plant from entering a waterbody than it is to manage after it becomes established.
Photo credit: Troy Evans, Barry Rice, Robert Videki