BioStudies Exotic Species Identification Guide

SALVINIAS (Salvinia spp.)

Family: Salviniaceae

Waterlettuce (Pistia stratiotes) is much larger than even giant salvinia (to ca 8/200 mm), with leaves in a rosette pattern, feathery but unbranched roots, and has heavily veined leaves. Unlike salvinias, waterlettuce can produce flowers.

Water sprite (Ceratopteris thalictroides) is also a true aquatic fern that can grow floating or rooted into the substrate. Non-hair leaves are deeply divided and unlikely to ever be confused with salvinias.

Giant Salvinia (Salvinia molesta) plant top view (left) and leaf detail showing hairs with caged tips (right).

COMMERCIAL IMPORTANCE: Although widely prohibited, some watergarden outlets, particularly Internet sources, continue to sell salvinias. They appear frequently as contamination among other fish-pond plants. Salvinias generally do poorly under typical aquarium culture. REASONS FOR RESTRICTION: Salvinias can grow very rapidly and completely cover some water bodies. Dense populations may block light from other more desirable aquatic plants. Giant salvinia has become a major noxious aquatic plant in other countries where it has reproduced rapidly; it has been known to over-grow even species like floating waterhyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes). In addition to federal restrictions on members of the molesta- or ariculata-complex with caged leaf hairs, several states prohibit some or all salvinia species. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and Texas Department of Agriculture prohibit all species.

Common salvinia (Salvinia minima) - plant top view (left) and leaf detail showing open leaf hair tips (right) Salvinias are actually small, aquatic ferns that float at the surface, with a "hairy" root-like leaf dangling below. Floating leaves are in 2's, oblong to nearly round, about 0.4-0.8 inches (10-20 mm) long (larger in S. molesta, to ca 2 inches/50 mm); a third leaf is positioned below the water surface in place of roots (there are no true roots). Floating leaves are bluish-green and covered with stiff hairs. A crease usually runs down the center of each leaf. Multiple sets of three leaves may be connected along a common stolon. Larger, older leaves often grow in a pleated or accordion-like pattern. Accordion-shaped leaf morphology is not specific to giant salvinia and may occur in other species do this as well. Common salvinia (S. minima) can grow nearly as large as giant salvinia (always examine leaf hairs). Salvinias generally fall into two groups based on the tips of their leaf hairs. Giant salvinia-complex (auriculata, biloba, molesta, and herzogii) have cage-like or egg-beater structures on the tips of their leaf

Robert G. Howells BioStudies

160 Bearskin Trail, Kerrville, Texas 78028 biostudies@hctc.net May 2009
Images and materials herein are not available for reuse or other applications without written permission of the author.

RANGE: All salvinias, except European salvinia, are native to warmer waters around the world. Giant salvinia may have originated in South America, but it and many other species are now largely cosmopolitan. Common salvinia is believed to have been introduced into the southeastern U.S. from South or Central America; it was found in Texas waters in the early 1990s and now occurs in TX, LA, FL, GA, SC, and AL. Giant salvinia appeared in Texas in 1997-98; it occurs in the same states as common salvinia. European salvinia is found in Europe, North Africa, and Java; a report from Missouri may have been incorrect. SIMILAR SPECIES: Salvinia species have sets of two, hairy, floating leaves with a third modified leaf below that looks and functions like a root. Azollas (Azolla spp.) are also water ferns with floating leaves and subsurface rootlike leaves, but have small, multiple, scale-like leaves. They are often bright red in color in strong light. One species is prohibited by USDA (Azolla pinnata).

hairs. Common salvinia and other related species have split-tip leaf hairs with free, non-connected tips. Both giant and common salvinias have invaded Texas waters. OTHER NAMES: Water fern, butterfly fern, water spangles, water moss, watermoss, koi candy, floating fern, swimming fern, Kariba-weed, giant water fern, giant water velvet, aquarium watermoss. BIOLOGY: Salvinias are often found in quiet-water areas in ponds and bayous. Reproduction by spores (on root-like leaves) occurs in European salvinia (S. natans) and possibly in several other species, but because spores are sterile in most salvinias, propagation is primarily by asexual budding. Fragmented leaf clusters can produce new plants as well. Most have limited value to fish or wildlife. Other than European salvinia, salvinias do better at warmer temperatures, but some species like giant and European salvinia may tolerate limited cold. Biological control with salvinia weevil (Certobagous salvinae) has been successful at some sites, but had little or no success at other locations. Giant salvinia (below left) may resemble common salvinia (S. minima) (below right) during early growth. Examination of leaf hair tips readily distinguishes them.

Water-meal (Wolffia spp.) is smaller (to 0.4/ 1.5 mm), lacks roots, does not grow in connected chains, and lacks leaf hairs.

Common duckweeds (Lemna spp.) (above) are usually < 0.16 (4 mm) in leaf size, with a single root that is not branched, lack veins or nerves, and are green on both the upper and lower leaf surfaces.

Giant duckweeds (Spirodela polyrhiza and Landoltia punctata) (above) are larger (to 0.4/10 mm), with multiple unbranched roots, veined leaves, and are green above, but red below.