Salvinia molesta

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Distribution Map: Based on vouchered plant specimens only. View county names by placing the mouse cursor over a particular county.

Species Distribution Map
Family:SALVINIACEAE
Species:Salvinia molesta D.S. Mitch.
Common Name:Kariba Weed; Aquarium Water Moss; Giant Salvinia
Habitat:**
Associated Ecological Communities:**
Growth Habit:Herb
Duration:**
Category:Vascular
USDA Symbol:SAMO5
Plant Notes:Giant Salvinia is an introduced perennial herbaceous aquatic in the Floating Fern family (Salviniaceae). It is a native of Argentina, Brazil, Columbia and Guyana, but is now widely introduced in tropical and subtropical areas around the globe. In Alabama it occurs in rivers, lakes, and other slow-moving bodies of water throughout the state. Giant Salvinia spreads by being transported on nets and boat propellers, and by people dumping it from aquariums and pools. It often forms large floating mats in areas of still water. The leaves are of two types—oval ones on or above the water’s surface and dissected ones that hang beneath the plant and look like roots. The floating leaves are in pairs, 0.5-1.5 inches in length, and vary in color from green to gold-brown. Their upper surface is covered in white hairs that repel water. The hairs are joined at their tips and resemble tiny eggbeaters. Young plants have smaller leaves that lie flat on the water surface, older plants have leaves that are larger, crowded, and folded above the water’s surface. The leaves are attached to an elongated rhizome just below the water’s surface. Giant Salvinia is a pentaploid species, and as a result of irregularities during meiosis that prevent spore formation it is functionally sterile. All reproduction occurs from fragmentation. Giant Salvinia infestations can make boating difficult and shade or crowd out native plants. You should never dump any aquatic plants into local water bodies, and always clean your fishing gear and boat when moving between locations. Considered one of the top most invasive aquatic plants worldwide, Giant salvinia was listed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture as a noxious weed in 1983.—A. Diamond.
Taxonomic Notes:**
Status:Not Native
References:**

** Not applicable or data not available.

Classification

FamilySALVINIACEAE - Floating Fern family
Genus Salvinia
Species Salvinia molesta D.S. Mitch. - Kariba Weed; Aquarium Water Moss; Giant Salvinia

Citation

Citation Salvinia molesta D.S. Mitchell, Brit. Fern Gaz. 10(5): 251–252. 1972.
Basionym: **
Type: ZIMBABWE: Lake Kariba, Ruziruhuru River Inlet, s.d., Mitchell 1330 (holotype: SRGH; isotypes: B, BM, BO, BOL, BR, CAL, CHR, EA, GE, GH, K, LISB, LP, M, MO, NSW, P, PDA, PRE, RB, US, WAG, Z).

** Not applicable or data not available.

Synonyms

No synonyms exist for this species.

Specimens and Distribution

This species has been reported in the following counties by the herbaria listed. An overview of the individual specimens are provided in the table that follows. Click on the accession number to view details; click on column headers to sort; choose a county or herbaria to filter the specimen data.

Counties included on distribution map: Colbert, Greene, Lauderdale, Lee, Limestone, Mobile, Morgan, Pickens, Russell, Shelby, Sumter

Counties represented by specimen data listed below:

Herbaria represented by specimen data listed below: ALNHS, AUA, TROY, UNA, UWAL

Range of years during which specimens were collected: -

Barcode / Accession No. County Coll. Date Collector &
Collection No.		 Herbarium &
Herbarium Name Used		 Image
UWAL0047471 Greene 09 Sep 2018 Keener, Brian R.
10863		 UWAL
Salvinia molesta D.S. Mitch.
UWAL0049622 Lauderdale 17 Oct 2019 Webb, David H.
8854		 UWAL
Salvinia molesta Mitchell
UWAL0049564 Limestone 12 Oct 2020 Webb, David H.
9208		 UWAL
Salvinia molesta D.S. Mitchell
UWAL0047164 Lauderdale 17 Oct 2019 Webb, David H.
8849		 UWAL
Salvinia molesta Mitchell
UWAL0049762 Colbert 08 Oct 2019 Webb, David H.
8833		 UWAL
Salvinia molesta Mitchell
UNA00066024 Lee 19 Mar 1999 Bryant, W.D.
s.n.		 UNA
Salvinia molesta Mitchell
ALNHS00006703 Mobile 06 Nov 2019 Barger, T. Wayne
SP#4991		 ALNHS
Salvinia molesta D.S. Mitchell
UWAL0049567 Limestone 12 Oct 2020 Webb, David H.
9206		 UWAL
Salvinia molesta D.S. Mitchell
UWAL0052144 Pickens 30 Aug 2020 Keener, Brian R.
11887		 UWAL
Salvinia molesta D.S. Mitch
UNA00056548 Lee 20 Jul 1999 Zolczynski, Joe
s.n.		 UNA
Salvinia molesta Mitchell
UNA00056552 Russell 16 Aug 1999 Hutto, David M.
s.n.		 UNA
Salvinia molesta Mitchell
UWAL0047167 Lauderdale 11 Sep 2017 Webb, David H.
8493		 UWAL
Salvinia molesta Mitchell
UNA00056551 Lee 17 Mar 1999 Bryant, W.D.
s.n.		 UNA
Salvinia molesta Mitchell
TROY000050432 Greene 09 Sep 2018 Keener, Brian R.
10863		 TROY
Salvinia molesta D.S. Mitchell
UNA00056553 Russell 16 Aug 1999 Hutto, David M.
s.n.		 UNA
Salvinia molesta Mitchell
UWAL0047175 Lauderdale 11 Sep 2017 Webb, David H.
8495		 UWAL
Salvinia molesta Mitchell
AUA_ACC_65804 Shelby 1 Sep 2006 LOEWENSTEIN, NANCY J.
 AUA
SALVINIA MOLESTA MITCHELL
UWAL0047265 Lauderdale 29 Aug 2019 Webb, David H.
8745		 UWAL
Salvinia molesta Mitchell
UWAL0050048 Colbert 08 Oct 2019 Webb, David H.
8831		 UWAL
Salvinia molesta Mitchell
UWAL0049653 Lauderdale 08 Oct 2019 Webb, David H.
8829		 UWAL
Salvinia molesta Mitchell
UWAL0047259 Colbert 08 Oct 2019 Webb, David H.
8834		 UWAL
Salvinia molesta Mitchell
UWAL0049563 Morgan 12 Oct 2020 Webb, David H.
9207		 UWAL
Salvinia molesta D.S. Mitchell
UWAL0047274 Lauderdale 11 Sep 2017 Webb, David H.
8497		 UWAL
Salvinia molesta Mitchell
UWAL0038578 Sumter 10 Sep 2017 Keener, Brian R.
10446		 UWAL
Salvinia molesta D.S. Mitchell
UWAL0049565 Morgan 12 Oct 2020 Webb, David H.
9205		 UWAL
Salvinia molesta D.S. Mitchell
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