Family: Salviniaceae
Author: Baker
Bibliography: J. Bot. 24: 98 (1886)
Year: 1886
Status: accepted
Rank: species
Genus: Salvinia
Vegetable: False
Observations: Mexico to Trop. America
Description
Water spangles, known scientifically as Salvinia minima, are small, free-floating aquatic ferns with a distinctive appearance. They belong to the Salviniaceae family.
Characterized by their oval, bright green leaves that form dense mats on the surface of still or slow-moving water, Water spangles are a native species found from Mexico extending to Tropical America. These plants have a significant capacity for rapid reproduction, enabling them to cover large areas quickly under ideal conditions.
Each leaf of Salvinia minima is composed of pairs that emerge from nodes around a central stem, with one submerged leaf acting as a root-like structure to anchor the plant and absorb nutrients. The leaves’ surface is covered with water-repellent hairs, giving them a velvety texture that efficiently repels water, preventing sinking.
Salvinia minima was first described in 1886 by the botanist Baker and documented in the Journal of Botany, volume 24, page 98. They are well-regarded for their utility in controlling algae growth by shading the water’s surface, reducing light penetration, and thus limiting photosynthesis in algae. However, due to their prolific growth, they can sometimes become invasive, forming thick mats that can impede water flow and disrupt local ecosystems.
Given their origins and adaptive strategies, Water spangles demonstrate an intriguing balance between utility in water management and the potential challenge as a fast-spreading species in non-native environments.
Common Names
Eng: water spangles, water fern
En: Water spangles, Water-Spangles, Water fern
Fa: سالوینیا مینیما
Synonyms
- Salvinia minima var. gaillardiana (Maury)
Distribution
- Argentina Northeast (native)
- Argentina Northwest (native)
- Belize (native)
- Bolivia (native)
- Brazil North (native)
- Brazil Northeast (native)
- Brazil South (native)
- Brazil Southeast (native)
- Brazil West-Central (native)
- Colombia (native)
- Costa Rica (native)
- Cuba (native)
- Ecuador (native)
- El Salvador (native)
- Guatemala (native)
- Honduras (native)
- Mexico Gulf (native)
- Mexico Northeast (native)
- Mexico Southeast (native)
- Mexico Southwest (native)
- Nicaragua (native)
- Panamá (native)
- Paraguay (native)
- Peru (native)
- Puerto Rico (native)
- Uruguay (native)
- Venezuela (native)
- Alabama (introduced)
- Arkansas (introduced)
- Florida (introduced)
- Georgia (introduced)
- Leeward Is. (introduced)
- Louisiana (introduced)
- Masachusettes (introduced)
- Mississippi (introduced)
- New Mexico (introduced)
- New York (introduced)
- Oklahoma (introduced)
- South Carolina (introduced)
- Texas (introduced)
Additional Images
Leaf
Taken Dec 2, 2022 by Pacome Cwiecinski (cc-by-sa)
Taken Oct 9, 2018 by Hugo SANTACREU (cc-by-sa)
Taken Apr 16, 2021 by Trap Hers (cc-by-sa)
Taken Oct 9, 2018 by Hugo SANTACREU (cc-by-sa)
Taken Dec 18, 2021 by Artur Cegielski (cc-by-sa)
Habit
Taken Mar 13, 2016 by EOL − Evan Raskin (cc-by-nc)
Taken Jan 1, 1900 by EOL − Forest & Kim Starr (cc-by)
Taken Feb 5, 2017 by Yoan MARTIN (cc-by-sa)
Taken Feb 5, 2017 by Yoan MARTIN (cc-by-sa)
Taken Feb 5, 2017 by Yoan MARTIN (cc-by-sa)
Flower
Taken Jun 30, 2022 by Róbert Gajó (cc-by-sa)
© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
Sources
- WFO (No URL)
- IPNI (No URL)
- GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/5274860)
- POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:227109-2)
- PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Salvinia minima Baker)
Specifications
Growth habit: Forb/herb