Salvinia

Family: Salviniaceae
Scientific name: Salvinia molesta
Description: Plant Form: Free-floating mat-forming aquatic fern. Size: Individual plants 6-25 cm long but forms large mats. Stem: Green, covered in fine hairs, slender and submerged. Leaves: Fronds, light green or yellowish, round to oval, growing in opposite pairs, with many waxy hairs, float on surface in mats. Habitat: Slow moving water bodies like ponds, generally in warmer climates. Distinguishing Features: Leaves get larger than Red root floater (Phyllanthus fluitans). Early growth can be distinguished from Azolla (Azolla species) and Duckweed (Lemna species and Spirodela species) by the opposite frond pairs. Weed Status: Priority Weed Weed Type: Environmental, Agricultural, Common Lifeform: Aquatic

Example images for this weed

National and state/territory profiles for this weed

Weeds Australia
NSW WeedWise (NSW)
DEECA (VIC)
! Should be reported
QDAF (QLD)
! Should be reported
PIRSA (SA)
! Should be reported
DPIRD (WA)
DNRE (TAS)
! Should be reported
DEPWS (NT)
NSW WeedWise (ACT)
! Should be reported