Salvinia

Salvinia is a small genus of ca. 10 species, mostly native in the (sub-)tropics. One species, Salvinia natans, is possibly native in the warmer parts of Europe.

At present, the two species treated below are generally cultivated for ornament in Europe.

• Blades of floating leaves almost round, ca. 25 x 20 mm, abaxially with papillae 1-2 mm long. Multicellular hairs on the apices of the papillae united distally === Salvinia auriculata
• Blades of floating leaves evidently longer than broad, ca. 15 x 10 mm, abaxially with papillae 0,2-0,8 mm long. Multicellular hairs on the apices of the papillae free === Salvinia natans

Literature

Lawalrée A (1964) Salvinia. In: Tutin T.G. & al. (eds.), Flora Europaea, vol. 1. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge: 24.

Page C.N. & Bennell F.M. (1986) Salvinia. In: Walters S.M. & al. (eds.), The European Garden Flora, vol. 1: 67. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.

Riefner R.E. & Smith A.R. (2009) Salvinia minima and S. oblongifolia (Salviniaceae) new to California, with notes on the S. auriculata complex. J. Bot. Res. Inst. Texas 3(2): 855-866.