Common Salvinia (Water Fern)
Other Common Names: water spangles, water velvet
(Salvinia minima)
Non-Native
Salvinia is a free floating aquatic fern with two green lobes above the water.
Description
Common Salvinia is a fern like plant with no flowers. Common Salvinia can be found free floating or in mud.
It is stemless and the leaves underwater are modified into root like structures that branch horizontally. Salvinia’s leaves have two small lobes that whorl opposite of each other to create an oblong shape. The leaves are light to medium green.
Usually, common Salvinia fronds have two leaves above the surface and one below. The entire plant is less than one inch in depth. In a mature plant, brown may be seen around the edges of the leaves.
Common Salvinia is an aggressive invader and can out compete native plants. If common Salvinia covers the entire surface of a pond, oxygen depletions and fish kills can occur.
Management Options
Location
Salvinia can be found across the southern Untied States and a few northeastern states.
Propagation
fragments, spores