Giant salvinia has oblong floating leaves, ˝ to 1-˝ inches, often folded and compressed
into
upright chains. Leaf surfaces have white bristles or hairs joined at the tips to form a “cage”,
visable with a hand lens. Bristles give a velvety appearance and repel wetting.
Please report suspected giant salvinia occurrences to your state department of wildlife
or environmental protection, and also please report to the U.S. Geological Survey.
Ms. Colette Jacono, a biologist with the USGS, is mapping new occurrences and also acting as a
clearing house of identification and occurrence information. In addition, informative flyers are
available
from her for distribution to water and wetland management agencies, fish camps, sports
organizations,
homeowners associations and others likely to encounter giant salvinia.
For more information, contact Ms. Jacono (toll free) at 1-877- 786-7267,
or view their web site at: http://nas.er.usgs.gov/ferns
The famously disruptive floating plant, giant salvinia
(Salvinia molesta), has finally been discovered established in the United States,
covering significant areas of rivers in the states of Texas and Louisiana. Efforts are underway to
eliminate
these infestations.
In an effort to identify new infestations of this very aggressive aquatic
weed,
and to help speed the deployment of management actions against the plant, the U.S.
Geological Survey
has issued a special alert to aquatics managers:
REPORT SUSPECTED SIGHTINGS.