Identification of giant salvinia is rather fascinating, as you need a hand lens to definitively distinguish it from a very similar nonnative species called water spangles or water fern ( Salvinia minima). We have identified populations of salvinia in the upper reaches of local bayous in Escambia County, but as salinity levels increase closer to the bay, the plant seems unable to establish itself. One natural check to unfettered growth in our area is that salvinia tends to thrive only in freshwater or very low salinity water bodies. A well-established salvinia weevil population can effectively manage large infestations of the plant, dropping coverage by 90%. This South American beetle ( Cyrtobagous salviniae) is very small (only 2 mm as an adult) but feeds exclusively on salvinia plants, stunting their growth and causing them to sink underwater. More effective methods include applying herbicides or using a biocontrol insect called the salvinia weevil. Any small piece of chopped up plant left behind in the process will regrow into new spreading plants, so leaving any fragments in the water ends up increasing the population. Mechanical or hand removal can take out significant amounts of salvinia, but is ineffective in the long run. There are several approaches to managing the plant. Die-offs of large numbers of salvinia can eat up oxygen levels in the water, causing fish kills. The thick mats of plant growth block sunlight into the water column, preventing other aquatic plants from growing. Our native birds, fish, and aquatic mammals don’t eat giant salvinia-it appears not to have much nutritional value-and therefore its growth goes unchecked. Photo credit: Carrie Stevenson, UF IFAS Extension Giant salvinia overgrowth in a backwater section of Bayou Chico in Escambia County. Preventing the spread from one water body to another is crucial. It is often spread by small pieces lodging in boat motors and trailers, so if you boat frequently in an area of known salvinia, be sure to remove any fragments of the plant once you are back on land. Even small craft like kayaks and canoes cannot make it through a water body clogged with this plant. The plant has choked up entire freshwater lakes and sections of rivers, requiring a major eradication effort just to regain access to the water. More than 20 states report salvinia popping up in their waters, although Texas and Louisiana seem to have the biggest battles with it. Once it managed to escape to the wild, however, salvinia really took off.

Giant salvinia is an invasive aquatic plant that was introduced to the United States as an ornamental plant (for aquariums and backyard ponds) from South America. They don’t stay that way, though, and perhaps their outsized influence and spread gives the “giant” a little more credence.

The floating plant starts out with a cluster of leaves no bigger than a dime. Photo credit: Carrie Stevenson, UF IFAS Extensionĭespite its name, giant salvinia ( Salvinia molesta) is actually pretty small. Giant salvinia starts as a smaller floating leaf (left) and grows into a thick, almost lettuce-like structure that can take over a waterway.

Giant slavania