Salvinia natans (L.) Allioni, Salviniaceae

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Present on Pacific Islands?  no

Primarily a threat at high elevations?  no

Other Latin names:  Marsilea natans L.

Common name(s): [more details]

English: floating watermoss

French: salvinie

Habit:  aquatic fern

Description:  "Floating fern with hairy stems.  Uppermost (floating) leaves longer than broad, 9-13 - 5-7 mm, entire at apex, arranged in regular rows and lying flat on the water surface; papillae arranged in regular rows, with a tuft of hairs not joined at their tips.  Sporocarps globose, whitish-yellow, 2-8 together on submerged, root-like leaves." (Waterhouse & Mitchell, 1998; pp. 93-94).

See also Salvinia cucullata and Salvinia molesta.

Habitat/ecology:  "Slow-moving waterways, irrigated fields, ditches and shallow pools. A weed of waters where phosphate levels have been increased due to fertiliser use." (Waterhouse & Mitchell, 1998; pp. 93-94).

Propagation:  "Vegetative fragments and spores dispersed by water. Human activities also responsible for spread of plants." (Waterhouse & Mitchell, 1998; pp. 93-94).

Native range:  Eurasia (Waterhouse & Mitchell, 1998; pp. 93-94).

Presence:

Pacific Rim
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Central America Central America (Pacific rim)	Honduras (Republic of)		Holm, Leroy/Pancho, Juan V./Herberger, James P./Plucknett, Donald L. (1979) (p. 320)
China China	China (People's Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
China China	Hong Kong	native	Wu, Te-lin (2001) (p. 32)
Indonesia Indonesia	Indonesia (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013) Java
Japan Japan	Japan	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
North Korea North Korea	North Korea (Democratic People's Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
South Korea South Korea	South Korea (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Malaysia Malaysia	Malaysia (country of)		Waterhouse, B. M./Mitchell, A. A. (1998) (p. 94)
Taiwan Taiwan Island	Taiwan Island	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Thailand Thailand	Thailand (Kingdom of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)

Indian Ocean
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Mauritius Mautitius Islands (Mauritius and Rodrigues)	Mauritius Island		Holm, Leroy/Pancho, Juan V./Herberger, James P./Plucknett, Donald L. (1979) (p. 320)

Also reported from
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
United States (continental except west coast) United States (other states)	United States (other states)	introduced invasive	Staples, George W./Herbst, Derral R. (2005) (p. 53)
United States (continental except west coast) United States (other states)	USA (Florida)	introduced invasive	Staples, George W./Herbst, Derral R. (2005) (p. 53)

Comments:  "A principal weed in temperate locations including Italy, Japan, Korea, Mauritius and New Zealand. A common weed of rice in Indonesia. Harbours the intermediate host (snail) for schistosomaiasis in Lake Kariba (Zimbabwe)." (Waterhouse & Mitchell, 1998; pp. 93-94).

Control:  If you know of control methods for Salvinia natans, please let us know.