Salvinia

Salvinia is a perennial free-floating, mat-forming aquatic fern.

Description

• Stems are horizontal with paired leaves above the water.

• Juvenile leaves are small, spaced apart, and lay on the water surface

• Mature leaves are round and very compact. They have eggbeater-shaped hairs on the upper surface.

• Submerged leaves are up to 30cm long and look more like roots.

• Vegetative spread from plantlets and fragments, dispersed by water, wind, waterfowl and other animals.

• Habitats include disturbed sites, lakes, rivers, streams, ditches, wetlands, and reservoirs.

What you need to know

Salvinia forms extensive mats, outcompeting and displacing native vegetation. It reduces water quality, clogs waterways and creates a drowning risk for humans and animals.

Management approach

Salvinia is declared an unwanted organism by the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) because it is capable of causing harm to the natural environment, physical resources or human health in Aotearoa/New Zealand.

These species pose a high risk to our environment, economy, recreation, and cultural values.

Rules

Any species declared a pest cannot be sold or be in a place where plants are being sold. Pest plants cannot be propagated, bred, multiplied, communicated, released, caused to be released, or otherwise spread.

Control

Do not attempt to undertake control of salvinia yourself. Report sightings to the MPI on Exotic Pest Hotline at 0800 80 99 66 or the online reporting form.