Plant
Water Spangles
Salvinia minimaAlso known as Common Salvinia, Floating Fern, Water Fern
Water spangles drift across slow-moving bayous, ponds, and canals, forming dense vegetative carpets that shade out underwater flora. Their floating oval fronds are covered in tiny, stiff hairs topped with four distinct prongs that trap air bubbles and keep the plant afloat even when submerged. Rapid vegetative fragmentation allows small colonies to double in surface area within days, choking surface oxygen exchange and outcompeting native duckweeds.
AquaticInvasiveFree-Floating
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & preyAutotrophic (photosynthetic)
Predators
- Salvinia Weevil (Cyrtobagous salviniae)
- Grass Carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella)
- Florida Apple Snail (Pomacea paludosa)
ThreatsHerbicide applications, biological control weevils, and prolonged freezing temperatures
HabitatsSlow-moving rivers, bayous, lakes, ponds, and drainage canals
Life spanPerennial (individual fronds live several months)
Classification
- OrderSalviniales
- FamilySalviniaceae
- GenusSalvinia
- SpeciesSalvinia minima
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; avoid transporting fragments to prevent spreading to new water bodies.
Responsible observation
- Check Boat Hulls: Inspect trailers, motors, and fishing gear to ensure no fragments hitchhike to new waters.
- Inspect the Frond Hairs: Look closely at the upper leaf surface with a hand lens to see the unjoined hair tips.
- Never Release from Aquariums: Avoid introducing pet or pond specimens into local drainage systems or natural ponds.
Image unavailablePredator 
Competitor no rights reserved, uploaded by Philipp · cc0
Frequent Companion no rights reserved, uploaded by 葉子 · cc0
Close Relative (c) Will McFarland, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Will McFarland · cc-by
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