Giant Salvinia - Invasive Species Information
Reproduction: Reproduces by asexual reproduction only, but it is capable of growing extremely quickly, starting from small fragments and doubling in dry weight every 2.2–2.5 days. Giant Salvinia grows from fragments that have broken off or dormant buds that have been detached from the main plant.
Each node has five buds so potential for rapid spread is high. It also produces spores which are genetically defective and do not produce viable offspring.
Giant Silvania Stand
Giant Salvinia is an aquatic fern, native to south-eastern Brazil. It is a free floating plant that does not attach to the soil, but instead remains buoyant on the surface of a body of water. Fonds are used to provide a waterproof covering. These fronds are produced in pairs also with a third modified root-like frond that hangs in the water.
How To Identify Giant Salvinia?
Colour: Large green leaf. Fronds are 0.5–4 cm long and broad, with a bristly surface caused by the hair-like strands that join at the end to form eggbeater shapes.
Size: Can grow up to 1.5 metre
Giant Silvania Leaves
Giant Silvania - Salvinia molesta ID Guide
Floating
Spores
Leaf Hairs
Why Is Giant Salvinia A Problem?
The dense mats fill in water-bodies resulting in decreases in density and diversity of native aquatic plants and animals. Similarly, giant salvinia mats can affect crop production, access to waterways for humans and livestock.
Giant Silvania Leaves
What Is Giant Salvinia - (Salvinia molesta)?
Habitat: Aquatic, fresh water
Distribution in Ireland: Sparse distribution but locally abundant in some places.
Status: Established
Family name: Menyanthaceae
European Communities (Birds and Natural Habitats) Regulations 2011 non-native invasive plant species A-Z (Updated 2017)
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There are currently 35 invasive plant species listed in the European Communities (Birds and Natural Habitats) Regulations (annex 2, Part 1)...
Click on a species from the following list to find out more regarding non-native species subject to restrictions under Regulations 49 and 50.
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American Skunk-Cabbage - Lysichiton americanus
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Brazilian Giant-Rhubarb - Gunnera manicata
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Broad-Leaved Rush - Juncus planifolius
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Cape Pondweed - Aponogeton distachyos
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Cord-Grasses - Spartina (all species and hybrids)
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Curly Waterweed - Lagarosiphon major
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Dwarf Eel-Grass - Zostera japonica
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Fanwort - Cabomba caroliniana
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Floating Pennywort - Hydrocotyle ranunculoides
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Fringed Water-Lily - Nymphoides peltata
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Giant Hogweed - Heracleum mantegazzianum
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Giant Knotweed - Fallopia sachalinensis
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Giant-Rhubarb - Gunnera tinctoria
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Giant Salvinia - Salvinia molesta
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Himalayan Balsam - Impatiens glandulifera
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Himalayan Knotweed - Persicaria wallichii
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Hottentot-Fig - Carpobrotus edulis
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Japanese Knotweed - Fallopia japonica
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Large-Flowered Waterweed - Egeria densa
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Mile-a-Minute Weed - Persicaria perfoliata
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New Zealand Pigmyweed - Crassula helmsii
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Parrots Feather - Myriophyllum aquaticum
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Red Alga - Grateloupia doryphora
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Rhododendron - Rhododendron ponticum
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Salmonberry - Rubus spectabilis
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Sea-Buckthorn - Hippophae rhamnoides
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Spanish Bluebell - Hyacinthoides hispanica
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Three-Cornered Leek - Allium triquetrum
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Wakame - Undaria pinnatifida
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Water Chestnut - Trapa natans
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Water Fern - Azolla filiculoides
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Water Lettuce - Pistia stratiotes
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Water-Primrose - Ludwigia (all species)
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Waterweeds - Elodea (all species)
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Wireweed - Sargassum muticum