About Salvinia molesta:
- It is a highly detrimental aquatic fern.
- It is commonly known as “Water Fern” is an aggressive and a fast growing Alien Invasive Aquatic Weed of the South-Eastern Brazil origin.
- It prefers tropical, sub-tropical or warm temperate areas of the world and grows best in still or slow-moving water bodies including ditches, ponds, lakes, slow rivers and canals.
- It is locally known as “Chinese Jhalaar”, this invasive species was first spotted in India in 2018 and had completely carpeted the reservoir by 2019.
- Impacts on environment: It may form dense vegetation mats that reduce water-flow and lower the light and oxygen levels in the water.
- It has been widely introduced as an ornamental plant and has been used as a mulch for crops in dry areas near water bodies where it grows.
Q1: What is Fern?
It is a class of nonflowering, herbaceous vascular plants that possess true roots, stems, and complex leaves and that reproduce by spores.
Source: Foreign insects turn allies in eradicating invasive aquatic weeds
Last updated on June, 2026
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