Salvinia Ség., Fl. Veron.

Kessler, Michael & Smith, Alan R., 2017, Prodromus of a fern flora for Bolivia. XVI. Salviniaceae, Phytotaxa 329 (1), pp. 97-100 : 98

Salvinia Ség., Fl. Veron. 3: 52. 1754.

Leaves 4–30 mm long, arranged in whorls of 3, with 2 leaves green, orbicular, and floating, and the third leaf root-like, lacking chlorophyll, pendent in the water, highly branched, and covered with trichomes. Some species may quickly form extensive floating mats that choke waterways, and can be serious pests ( Mitchell 1972, Cilliers 1991, Coetzee et al. 2011). May be mistaken for young specimens of Pistia stratiotes L. ( Araceae ), which have their leaves clumped and emerging from the water. A taxonomically complex genus, and fertile specimens are rarely found. A pantropical genus of about 11 species, with about eight species in America ( Herzog 1935, Weatherby 1937, de la Sota 1976, Forno 1983).