Salvinia molesta D.S.Mitch.

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Salvinia molesta

Photo: Petra Ballings
SRGH

Salvinia molesta

Photo: Petra Ballings
SRGH

Salvinia molesta

Photo: Petra Ballings
Zambezi National Park

Salvinia molesta

Photo: Petra Ballings
Zambezi National Park

Salvinia molesta

Photo: Petra Ballings
Zambezi National Park

Salvinia molesta

Photo: Petra Ballings
Zambezi National Park

Salvinia molesta

Photo: Bart Wursten
Zambezi National Park

Salvinia molesta

Photo: Benjamin Miller
Borrowdale Brooke, Harare.

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Species details: Click on each item to see an explanation of that item (Note: opens a new window)

Synonyms: Salvinia auriculata sensu Schelpe, non Aubl.
Salvinia natans sensu Cadet, non (L.) All.
Common names:
Frequency:
Status: Introduced
Description:
Plants free-floating aquatics. Rhizome up to 1.2 mm in diameter, horizontal, repeatedly dichotomously branched, with brown hairs. Leaves in whorls of three, two unwettable floating leaves and a submerged leaf at each node. Floating leaves broadly obovate, rounded to emarginate at the apex, cordate at the base, folded along the midrib in vigorous plants; upper surface covered with parallel rows of multicellular stalked hairs each subtended by 3-4 arms which re-unite at the apex in a cagelike structure, lower surface only simple hairs near the midrib. Submerged leaf finely dissected, rootlike, up to 12 cm long, set with brown hairs. Sporocarps in 2 rows along one lobe of the submerged leaf, ovoid, c. 2-3 mm in diameter, resembling a string of beads, heterosporous.
Notes:
Derivation of specific name: molesta: annoying, troublesome; a reference to the difficulties in eradicating the spreading nature of this plant in aquatic habits such as Lake Kariba along the Zambezi River. The popular name is, therefore, 'Kariba Weed'.
Habitat: In mud and backwaters of lakes, dams and rivers, often forming extensive free-floating mats.
Altitude range:
Worldwide distribution: Introduced from tropical America to southern, central and east Africa; also naturalised on Mauritius & Rodrigues Island, India, Sri Lanka, Australia and possibly Malaysia, Indonesia and New Zealand.
Mozambique distribution:
Growth form(s): Aquatic.
Endemic status:
Red data list status:
Insects associated with this species:
Spot characters: Display spot characters for this species
Literature:

Burrows, J.E. (1990). Southern African Ferns and Fern Allies. Frandsen, Sandton. Pages 80 - 81. (Includes a picture).

Crouch, N.R., Klopper, R.R., Burrows, J.E. & Burrows, S.M. (2011). Ferns of Southern Africa, A comprehensive guide Struik Nature Pages 218 - 219. (Includes a picture).

Da Silva, M.C., Izidine, S. & Amude, A.B. (2004). A preliminary checklist of the vascular plants of Mozambique. Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 30 Sabonet, Pretoria Page 143.

Germishuizen, G. & Meyer, N.L. (eds) (2003). Plants of southern Africa: an annotated checklist. Strelitzia 14 Page 83.

Jacobsen, W.B.G. (1983). The Ferns and Fern Allies of Southern Africa. Butterworths, Durban and Pretoria. Pages 490 - 491. (Includes a picture).

Kornas, J. (1979). Distribution and ecology of the Pteridophytes in Zambia Polska Akademia Nauk Wydzial II Nauk Biologicznych Page 122.

Mapaura, A. & Timberlake, J. (eds) (2004). A checklist of Zimbabwean vascular plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 33 Sabonet, Pretoria and Harare Page 10.

Roux, J.P. (2001). Conspectus of Southern African Pteridophyta. Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report 13 Page 178.

Roux, J.P. (2009). Synopsis of the Lycopodiophyta and Pteridophyta of Africa, Madagascar and neighbouring islands Page 59.

Schelpe, E.A.C.L.E. (1970). Pteridophyta Flora Zambesiaca Page 67. As Azolla auriculata (Includes a picture).

Setshogo, M.P. (2005). Preliminary checklist of the plants of Botswana. Sabonet Report no. 37. Sabonet, Pretoria and Gaborone Page 16.

Timberlake, J.R. & Childes, S.L. (2004). Biodiversity of the Four Corners Area: Technical Reviews Volume Two (Chapter 5-15) Appendix 5-1: Plant Checklist Occasional Publications in Biodiversity 15 Page 179.

Other sources of information about Salvinia molesta:

Our websites:

Flora of Botswana: Salvinia molesta
Flora of Caprivi: Salvinia molesta
Flora of Caprivi: cultivated Salvinia molesta
Flora of Zambia: Salvinia molesta
Flora of Zimbabwe: Salvinia molesta

External websites:

African Plants: A Photo Guide (Senckenberg): Salvinia molesta
African Plant Database: Salvinia molesta
BHL (Biodiversity Heritage Library): Salvinia molesta
EOL (Encyclopedia of Life): Salvinia molesta
GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility): Salvinia molesta
Google: Web - Images - Scholar
iNaturalist: Salvinia molesta
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Salvinia molesta
JSTOR Plant Science: Salvinia molesta
Mansfeld World Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops: Salvinia molesta
Plants of the World Online: Salvinia molesta
Tropicos: Salvinia molesta
Wikipedia: Salvinia molesta


Copyright: Mark Hyde, Bart Wursten, Petra Ballings and Meg Coates Palgrave 2007-24

Hyde, M.A., Wursten, B.T., Ballings, P. & Coates Palgrave, M. (2024). Flora of Mozambique: Species information: Salvinia molesta.
https://www.mozambiqueflora.com/speciesdata/species.php?species_id=102890, retrieved 19 March 2024

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