Salvinia

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iSalvinia (Salviniaceae)
Salvinia natans
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae Division: Pteridophyta Class: Pteridopsida Order: Marsileales Family: Salviniaceae Genus: Salvinia
species
Salvinia auriculata Salvinia biloba Salvinia cucullata Salvinia cyathiformis Salvinia hastata Salvinia minima Salvinia molesta Salvinia natans Salvinia nymphellula Salvinia oblongifolia Salvinia radula Salvinia rotundifolia Salvinia sprucei

Salvinia is a genus of ferns, the sole genus in family Salviniaceae. Salvinia is a floating fern, and the Salviniaceae are related to the other water ferns, including the Mosquito fern, Azolla. Some sources include Azolla in Salviniaceae, although the genus is generally given its own family, Azollaceae. Salviniaceae and the other fern families in order Marsileales are heterosporous, producing spores of differing sizes.

Giant salvinia (Salvinia molesta) is a commonly introduced invasive weed in warm climates. It grows rapidly and forms dense mats over still waters. It is native to South America. A tiny insect called a weevil (Cyrtobagous salviniae) has been used successfully to control giant salvinia.

[edit] Sources

• http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/archive/nov01/giant1101.htm