Salvinia natans (L.) Allioni

Common Name: floating watermoss, eared watermoss

Description: A small, delicate, annual species, most closely resembling Salvinia minima in shape and size. Leaves generally 15 mm x 15 - 20 mm. Upper leaf surfaces bearing very small projections, 0.2 - 0.8 mm tall, that are topped with several small, free hairs. Sporocarps are nearly spherical in shape.

Native Range:  Temperate regions of Europe, India and Japan.

Comments:  A fertile species dependent on spore production and over wintering for annual recurrence. Floating plants completely die during the winter months. New populations develop from overwintered spores that, having lay dormant in the sediment, rise to the water’s surface and germinate with the warming temperatures of spring. Goencz and Sencic (1994) report that S. natans grows abundantly in India, but is rare in central and east Europe. Infact, the species is listed as threatened in Slovenia and Italy. Due to the similarities between Salvinia natans and S. minima, S. natans is often erroneously reported from horticulture when in fact the plants for sale are S. minima.

References:

Eckardt, M.  2001. Review of articles, Aqua-Plants 2&3-2000: Trapa natans L. & Salvinia natans (L.) All. In permaculture.  Planted Aquaria:44-45.

Goencz, A.M. and L. Sencic.  1994. Metolachlor and 2, 4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid sensitivity of Salvinia natans.  Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology 53(6):852-855.

Lawalree, A. 1964. Salviniaceae. In: Tutin, T.G. and others (eds.) with the assistance of Ball, P.W. and Chater, A.O. Flora Europaea. Volume 1. University Press, Cambridge. pp. 24-25.

Authors: M.M. Richerson and C.C. Jacono

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