Home / Anomalous_Items / Aquatic_Macrophytes / Emergent_Leaves / Salvinia
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Name derivation:
Common name ‘water moss’
Classification:
Salvinia Ség. Order Hydropteridales; Family Salviniaceae
Morphology:
Heterophylly, with oval leaves on the neuston and dissected leaves beneath the water surface. Roots are suspended under the leaves. Green leaves durn brown with age and bright sunlight.
Similar genera:
Habitat:
Native to Central and S. America. Introduced to USA where it is considered to be invasive (S. minima), interfering with duckweed species that have more nutrition for waterfowl. Presumably thick mats of S minima can cause anoxia and fish kills by blocking sunlight at the surface. Freshwater ponds and small lakes with limited wind velocity. Tropical to subtropical sites. In N. America native only to the southernmost states.
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