Salvinia molesta

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