Giant Salvinia

Scientific name: Salvinia molesta D. S. Mitch.

Common names: Giant salvinia, kariba-weed

Native To: Brazil

Date of U.S. Introduction: 1990s

Images: Invasive.org and Google

Video: Giant Salvinia at Caddo Lake (or click Play button below)

Means of Introduction: Aquarium trade

Impact: Forms dense mats that block sunlight and reduce oxygen levels

Current U.S. Distribution:

• National Agricultural Pest Information System - Pest Tracker - Reported Status
• PLANTS Database map (see complete PLANTS Profile for county distribution and native status)
• Early Detection & Distribution Mapping System (county distribution for Southeastern States)

Federally Regulated: Federal Noxious Weed (USDA, APHIS - Noxious Weeds Program)

Management Plans: Aquatic Species / Giant Salvinia

Selected Internet Resources:

• Federal Government
• State Government
• University/Academic
• International
• Organizations

Salvinia molesta
Integrated Taxonomic Information System.
Taxonomy

Salvinia molesta D. S. Mitchell (Giant Salvinia) in the United States: A Review of Species Ecology and Approaches to Management (PDF | 3.37 MB)
United States Army Corps of Engineers. Aquatic Plant Control Research Program.
Taxonomy; Identification/Description; Photographs; Illustrations; Introduction History; Impacts; Life Cycle; Distribution; Dispersion; Controls

Salvinia molesta Mitchell (Giant Salvinia) - Noxious and Nuisance Plant Management Information System (PMIS)
United States Army Corps of Engineers. Engineer Research and Development Center. Environmental Laboratory.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Introduction History; Impacts; Distribution

Salvinia molesta - Possibly The World's Worst Weed (PDF | 70 KB)
Florida Department of Environmental Protection. Bureau of Invasive Plant Management.
Produced by: United States Army Corps of Engineers. Jacksonville District. Aquatic Plant Control Section
Identification/Description; Photographs; Introduction History; Impacts; Distribution; Controls

Salvinia molesta Article Citation Search - AGRICOLA Database
USDA. National Agricultural Library.
Research; Special Note: NAL Catalog Search (resources)

Salvinia molesta - Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN)
USDA. ARS. National Genetic Resources Program.
Taxonomy; Legal Aspects

Weevil May Help Fight Invasive Water Weed (Jul 1, 1999)
USDA. Agricultural Research Service.
Controls

Giant Salvinia - Pest Alert (May 2000; PDF | 49 KB)
USDA. Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Impacts; Dispersion; Controls

Floating Fern (Salvinia) - Biological Control of Invasive Plants in the Eastern United States
USDA. Forest Service.
Taxonomy; Photographs; Impacts; Life Cycle; Distribution; Dispersion; Controls; Special Note: References

Plant Profile for Salvinia molesta - PLANTS Database
USDA. NRCS. National Plant Data Center.
Taxonomy; Photographs; Distribution; Legal Aspects

Salvinia - Nonindigenous Aquatic Ferns in the United States
DOI. USGS. Florida Integrated Science Center.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Illustrations; Impacts; Habitat; Distribution; Controls

Giant Salvinia - Plant Invaders of Mid-Atlantic Natural Areas (2002)
DOI. National Park Service and Fish and Wildlife Service.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Distribution; Introduction History; Impacts; Controls

Salvinia molesta - Invasive Alien Species
Arizona Department of Agriculture.
Taxonomy; Distribution; Habitat; Legal Aspects; Special Note: References

Salvinia - EncycloWeedia
California Department of Food and Agriculture.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Habitat; Distribution; Dispersion; Controls

Have you seen this plant? Salvinia molesta?
Florida Department of Environmental Protection.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Illustrations; Impacts

Special Salvinia Alert! (PDF | 1.37 MB)
South Carolina Department of Natural Resources.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Illustrations; Controls

Giant Salvinia - Vermont Invasive Exotic Plant Fact Sheet (PDF | 114 KB)
Vermont Agency of Natural Resources. Environmental Conservation. Identification/Description; Illustrations; Introduction History; Impacts; Distribution; Controls

Salvinia Molesta - Lower Colorado River Giant Salvinia Task Force
University of Arizona. Agriculture and Life Sciences.
Introduction History; Impacts, Distribution; Habitats; Controls

Salvinia molesta (Giant salvinia, Water fern) - Invasive Plant Atlas of New England (IPANE)
University of Connecticut. Ecology and Evolutionary Biology.
Taxonomy; Identification/Description; Photographs; Introduction History; Distribution; Dispersion; Controls

Giant Salvinia - Exotic Aquatics on the Move
National Sea Grant Network and Geographic Education Alliances.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Introduction History; Impacts; Distribution; Controls

Giant Salvinia Wanted Poster--Dead, Not Alive! (PDF | 243 KB)
University of Nevada - Reno. Cooperative Extension.
Identification/Description; Photographs

Giant Salvinia - Aquatic Plant Fact Sheet
North Carolina State University. Department of Crop Science.
Identification/Description; Photographs

Giant Salvinia - Biological Control of Weeds in Texas
Texas A&M University. Department of Entomology.
Identification/Description; Distribution; Controls; Legal Aspects

Giant Salvinia - Aquaplant
Texas A&M University. Texas Agricultural Extension Service.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Illustrations; Introduction History; Controls

Salvinia - Facts: Pest Series (PDF | 191 KB)
Queensland Department of Natural Resources and Mines (Australia).
Identification/Description; Photographs; Illustrations; Impacts; Life Cycle; Habitat; Distribution; Dispersion; Controls

Salvinia - Weed Management Guide (PDF | 428 KB)
Cooperative Research Centre for Australian Weed Management.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Impacts; Life Cycle; Habitat; Distribution; Dispersion; Controls; Legal Aspects

Salvinia molesta (aquatic plant) - ISSG Global Invasive Species Database
World Conservation Union. Invasive Species Specialist Group.
Taxonomy; Identification/Description; Impacts; Life Cycle; Habitat; Distribution; Controls

Giant Salvinia
Colorado Weed Management Association.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Life Cycle; Habitat; Distribution; Dispersion

Salvinia molesta
Discover Life.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Introduction History; Impacts; Habitat; Distribution; Dispersion; Controls

Giant Salvinia
Invasive.org.
Photographs

Giant salvinia - Practical Guidebook to the Control of Invasive and Aquatic Wetland Plants of the San Francisco Bay-Delta Region
San Francisco Estuary Institute.
Identification/Description; Photographs

Salvinia molesta (Giant salvinia)
Nature Conservancy. Global Invasive Species Initiative.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Impacts; Distribution; Controls

Salvinia molesta
Pacific Island Ecosystems at Risk.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Life Cycle; Habitat; Distribution; Controls

Salvinia molesta
Pulling Together Initiative. Texasinvasives.org.
Taxonomy; Identification/Description; Photographs; Introduction History; Impacts; Life Cycle; Habitat; Distribution; Dispersion; Controls; Special Note: References

Salvinia molesta, Giant Salvinia
Western Aquatic Plant Management Society.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Impacts; Life Cycle; Habitat; Distribution; Dispersion