Non-native – Invasive – Eradicate
Native to South America, Salvinia is considered a noxious plant and should be eradicated upon discovery. This aggressive and highly competitive plant grows rapidly becoming a menace to waterways. The dense coverage inhibits sunlight to submerged plants leading to oxygen level disturbances. In severe cases fish kills can occur. Salvinia is a free-floating aquatic fern lacking a flower. Giant Salvinia are oblong and approximately .5 to 1.5 inches long with a midrib causing it to fold, developing the chain-like facade. Hard leaf hairs appear on the upper leaf surface. Believed to reproduce by fragmentation, plant size can double within 4 to 10 days.
