Floating watermoss (Salvinia natans, Fl. Pedem. 2: 289 (1785))

Family: Salviniaceae

Author: (L.) All.

Bibliography: Fl. Pedem. 2: 289 (1785)

Year: 1785

Status: accepted

Rank: species

Genus: Salvinia

Vegetable: False

Observations: Temp. Eurasia to Indo-China, Jawa

Description

Floating watermoss is an aquatic fern widely known for its scientific name, Salvinia natans. This fascinating plant belongs to the family Salviniaceae and has a rich botanical history, first described in Flora Pedemontana in 1785 by Carlo Allioni, following the initial classification by Carl Linnaeus.

Salvinia natans can be found across temperate Eurasia extending to Indo-China and even reaching the island of Java. This geographic distribution highlights its adaptability and resilience to various climates and environments.

The plant features floating leaves that rest on the water’s surface, creating a lush, green mat that can sometimes cover entire water bodies. These leaves are distinctly oval-shaped, with a unique spongy texture that aids buoyancy, allowing the plant to thrive in aquatic habitats.

Floating watermoss plays a crucial role in its ecosystem, providing habitat and food for various aquatic organisms. It helps in water purification by absorbing excess nutrients, thereby preventing the growth of harmful algae.

Not only is Salvinia natans ecologically significant, but it also attracts interest for its aesthetic value in water gardens and aquariums. However, due to its rapid growth and spread, it is important to manage its proliferation to prevent it from becoming invasive, which can disrupt local ecosystems.

In summary, the floating watermoss (Salvinia natans) is a remarkable and versatile aquatic fern that enriches aquatic ecosystems while offering aesthetic and ecological benefits. Understanding its behavior and impact is crucial for maintaining balanced and healthy water environments.

Common Names

Eng: floating watermoss, eared watermoss, floating fern
Deu: gewöhnlicher schwimmfarn, schwimmfarn, gemeine schwimmfarn
Spa: helechillo de agua
Nld: kleine vlotvaren
Fra: marsilée nageante, salvinia nageante, salvinie nageante, salvinie
Swe: simbräken
Sqi: bar peshku
Ita: erba pesce
Slv: plavajoči plavček
Tur: su eǧreltisi
Srp: водена папрат, непачка
Bul: плаваща лейка
Mkd: пловечка водена папрат, пловечки папрат
Rus: сальви́ния пла́вающая
En: Floating watermoss, Floating Fern, Floating Water-Moss, Water butterfly wings, Eared watermoss
Sq: Bar peshku
Ar: سالفينيا سابحة
Hy: Ծովոսպ լողացող
Be: Сальвінія плывучая
Bg: Плаваща лейка
Ca: Salvínia
Zh: 槐葉蘋
Cs: Nepukalka vzplývající
Nl: Vlotvaren, Kleine vlotvaren
Fi: Kellussaniainen
Fr: Salvinie, Salvinia nageante, Salvinie nageante, Marsilée nageante
De: Gemeiner Schwimmfarn, Gewöhnlicher Schwimmfarn, Schwimmfarn, Gemeine Schwimmfarn
He: סלביניה צפה
Hu: Vízi rucaöröm
It: Erba pesce
Kk: Жүзгіш сальвиния
Ko: 생이가래
Lt: Plūduriuojančioji plūstis
Mk: Пловечка водена папрат, Пловечки папрат
Fa: سالوینیا ناتاس
Pl: Salwinia pływająca
Ru: Сальвиния плавающая, Сальви́ния пла́вающая
Sr: Непачка, Водена папрат
Sl: Plavajoči plavček
Es: Plavajoči plavček, Helechillo de agua
Sv: Simbräken
Zh-tw: 槐葉蘋
Tr: Su eǧreltisi
Uk: Сальвінія плаваюча

Synonyms

• Marsilea patens (J.F.Gmel.)
• Marsilea salvinioides (Neck.)
• Salvinia europaea (Desv.)
• Trichomanes villosulum (Wall.)
• Salvinia vulgaris (Rupr.)
• Salvinia verticillata (Roxb.)
• Salvinia sprengelii (Corda)
• Marsilea natans (L.)

Distribution

• Afghanistan (native)
• Algeria (native)
• Altay (native)
• Amur (native)
• Assam (native)
• Baltic States (native)
• Bangladesh (native)
• Belarus (native)
• Bulgaria (native)
• China North-Central (native)
• China South-Central (native)
• China Southeast (native)
• Czechoslovakia (native)
• East European Russia (native)
• East Himalaya (native)
• Germany (native)
• Greece (native)
• Hainan (native)
• Hungary (native)
• India (native)
• Inner Mongolia (native)
• Iran (native)
• Iraq (native)
• Italy (native)
• Japan (native)
• Jawa (native)
• Kazakhstan (native)
• Khabarovsk (native)
• Korea (native)
• Krym (native)
• Lebanon-Syria (native)
• Manchuria (native)
• Nansei-shoto (native)
• Nepal (native)
• Netherlands (native)
• North Caucasus (native)
• Northwest European R (native)
• Pakistan (native)
• Palestine (native)
• Poland (native)
• Primorye (native)
• Qinghai (native)
• Romania (native)
• South China Sea (native)
• Spain (native)
• Taiwan (native)
• Thailand (native)
• Tibet (native)
• Transcaucasus (native)
• Tunisia (native)
• Turkey (native)
• Turkey-in-Europe (native)
• Ukraine (native)
• Uzbekistan (native)
• Vietnam (native)
• West Himalaya (native)
• West Siberia (native)
• Xinjiang (native)
• Yugoslavia (native)
• Austria (introduced)
• Cuba (introduced)
• Jamaica (introduced)
• Masachusettes (introduced)
• New York (introduced)

Additional Images

Leaf

Taken Oct 22, 2019 by rincon andrea (cc-by-sa)

Taken Dec 18, 2021 by Artur Cegielski (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 6, 2019 by Ivana Đerić (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jan 7, 2019 by Thomas Jumez (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 6, 2021 by Simon Tamás (cc-by-sa)

Fruit

Taken Feb 27, 2022 by Beate Liebold (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jan 1, 1900 by EOL − Ori Fragman-Sapir (cc-by-nc-sa)

Flower

Taken Oct 4, 2022 by Radoslav Marinkovic (cc-by-sa)

Taken Nov 8, 2022 by Ralf Rombach (cc-by-sa)

Habit

Taken Jul 31, 2016 by Tela Botanica − Liliane ROUBAUDI (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 31, 2016 by Tela Botanica − Liliane ROUBAUDI (cc-by-sa)

Taken Mar 5, 2009 by Tela Botanica − Liliane ROUBAUDI (cc-by-sa)

Taken Mar 5, 2009 by Tela Botanica − Liliane ROUBAUDI (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 31, 2016 by Tela Botanica − Liliane ROUBAUDI (cc-by-sa)

Other

Taken Sep 15, 1987 by Photoflora – Jean-Luc TASSET (©)

Taken Jan 1, 1970 by Photoflora – L’Abbé COSTE (©)

© 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/5274858)
• POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:17219920-1)
• PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Salvinia natans (L.) All.)

Specifications

Growth

Ph maximum: 5.5

Ph minimum: 5.0

Light: 8

Atmospheric humidity: 9

Bloom months: [‘jul’, ‘aug’, ‘sep’, ‘oct’, ‘nov’]

Soil nutriments: 4