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Salvinia

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.

Salvinia molestaSalvinia molestaSalvinia molesta

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Plant Type

Leaf Arrangement

Plant Life Cycle

Weed Declaration

This species is declared Restricted Matter under the Biosecurity Act 2014 for further information on declaration refer to your Local Government or the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries. It is also a Weed of National Significance.

Weed Spread