Plant · GBIF taxon 5274858
Floating Fern
Salvinia natansAlso known as Floating Moss, Water Butterfly Wings, Floating Water Fern
Floating ferns drift across still lakes and sluggish ditches, covering open water in velvet mats of vibrant green. Each plant features paired oval floating leaves coated in water-repellent hairs that entrap air, along with a finely dissected third leaf that hangs beneath like rootlets to absorb nutrients. During winter, these annual plants die back completely, leaving dormant spores on the muddy bottom to regenerate the colony next spring.
AquaticFloating PlantAnnual
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Autotrophic (Photosynthetic)
Predators
- Waterfowl
- Grass carp
- Aquatic snails
ThreatsWetland drainage, aquatic pollution, and herbicide runoff
HabitatsLakes, ponds, quiet river bends, and drainage ditches
Life span1 year (Annual)
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- FamilySalviniaceae
- SpeciesSalvinia natans
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
- Surface detail: Examine the upper leaf surfaces up close to observe the tiny air-trapping hairs.
- Waterway health: Avoid transferring floating plants between waterbodies on boots or boat hulls to prevent unintended spread.
Ecological Partner (c) Kevin Thiele, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
Competitor no rights reserved, uploaded by Philipp · cc0
Close Relative (c) Will McFarland, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Will McFarland · cc-by
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