Salvinia molesta

Non-Native to Florida

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This species is on the FL DACS Prohibited Aquatic Plant List – 5B-64.011. According to Florida Statute 369.25, “No person shall import, transport, cultivate, collect, sell, or possess any noxious aquatic plant listed on the prohibited aquatic plant list established by the department without a permit issued by the department.” See 5B-64.011 for more information.

This species is also on the Federal Noxious Weed List – (7 CFR 360). No person may move a Federal noxious weed into or through the United States, or interstate, without a federal permit. See 7 CFR 360 for more information.

Salvinia molesta is rarely found growing in the canals of Collier County. It is native to Brazil but escaped cultivation (Wunderlin, 2003). It blooms year round.

Appearance: Free floating fern; stems rootless, hairy, about 10 cm long.

Leaves: Borne in threes; appear 2-ranked, but with 3rd leaf finely dissected and dangling, resembling roots; rounded to somewhat broadly elliptical, to 2 cm long, with cordate base, upper surface with 4-pronged hairs joined at the tips (resembling an egg beater), lower surface hairy.

Spores: In a nutlike sporocarp (a multicellular structure), trailing beneath.

Ecological threat: Spreads rapidly and prolifically into a monoculture which can shade out underwater natives, leaving large bare bottom areas.

Distribution: C, SW

Text from Invasive and Non-Native Plants You Should Know, Recognition Cards, by A. Richard and V. Ramey, 2007. UF/IFAS Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants, Publ. No. SP 431.

Download the Recognition Card (PDF 1.06 MB).

For complete information about this invasive aquatic plant, go to this USGS web site.

View the herbarium specimen image of the University of Florida Herbarium Digital Imaging Projects.