Weed Habitat 

• A native of South America, Salvinia was introduced onto Australia as an aquarium plant.
• Invades slow moving fresh and brackish streams or still water ponds and dams, displaces native species.
• Prefers high nutrient levels and water temperatures around 20-30 degrees C.
• Forms dense mats clogging water bodies.

Description 

• Perennial free-floating aquatic fern.
• Bright green pleated fronds in pairs along the stem, oval, 2 cm wide, upper surface is covered with long, stiff water repellent hairs, very shortly stalked.
• No flowers or true roots are produced.
• Modified underwater leaves look like roots, are filament-like, trailing in the water from each pair of leaves.