Back to Results
Home / Salviniaceae / Salvinia / Salvinia molesta

Salvinia molesta

Giant Salvinia, Kariba Weed, Water Fern, African Payal, African Pyle, Aquarium Watermoss, Giant Water Fern, Velvet Weed, Kariba Weed
Other regional names: Salvinia Moss
  • Salvinia Moss
Also known as: Salvinia adnata Desv.
  • Salvinia adnata Desv.
Botanical Data
  • Taxonomic Rank: Species
  • Botanical Family: Salviniaceae
  • WCVP Morphological Data: Recorded natively as a hydroperennial.

Salvinia molesta (commonly known as Giant salvinia or Kariba weed) is a fern belonging to the Salviniaceae family. Found natively in South America, this species is primarily associated with wet tropical conditions.

Macro Climate
Tropical
Plant Type
Fern
Plant Type
Herbaceous Perennial
Plant Type
Aquatic Plant

Native Range

Continents (WGSRPD)
SOUTHERN AMERICA
Regions (WGSRPD)
Brazil, Southern South America
Botanical Countries (WGSRPD L3)
Argentina Northeast, Brazil South, Brazil Southeast

Introduced Range

Plants flagged as 'Introduced' have been transported outside their native historical range by human activity. While many are common ornamentals, some may become naturalized or invasive in local environments. Local ecological guidelines require verification prior to planting.
Botanical Countries (Non-Native)
Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Austria, Azores, Bangladesh, Belgium, Benin, Borneo, Botswana, Burkina, California, Cameroon, Cape Provinces, Comoros, Connecticut, Corse, Cuba, Denmark, Fiji, Florida, France, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Guatemala, Hawaii, Hungary, India, Italy, Ivory Coast, Jawa, Kansas, Kenya, KwaZulu-Natal, Leeward Is., Lesotho, Louisiana, Malawi, Malaya, Mali, Maryland, Mauritania, Mexico Northwest, Mississippi, Missouri, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Caledonia, New Guinea, New Mexico, New South Wales, Nigeria, North Carolina, Northern Provinces, Northern Territory, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pakistan, Palestine, Pennsylvania, Philippines, Portugal, Queensland, Senegal, South Australia, South Carolina, Sri Lanka, Swaziland, Taiwan, Tanzania, Texas, Thailand, Trinidad-Tobago, Turkey, Uganda, Vanuatu, Victoria, Virginia, Washington, West Himalaya, Western Australia, Zambia, Zimbabwe

Help improve SilvaGrid

We use optional first-party analytics to understand which plant searches and filters are useful. We do not use this information for advertising. Read our Privacy Policy .