FP603 - Salvinia natans Floating Plant

Salvinia natans is an excellent floating plant for aquariums and ponds as it's attractive, versatile, and fast-growing. They are easy to maintain and grow and provide a level of biological filtration.

Salvinia natans (commonly known as floating fern, floating watermoss, floating moss, or commercially, water butterfly wings) is an annual floating aquatic fern, which can appear superficially similar to moss.

Plants that float provide excellent hiding spaces for fish fry and provides oxygen to fish in ponds and aquariums.

Salvinia natans has two nickel-sized leaves lying flat against the surface of the water. The third submerged leaf functions as a root. Pouches of air within the leaves make floatation possible. Cuticular papillae on the leaves' surface keep water from interfering with the leaves' functioning. They serve to protect them from decay. Spore cases form at the floating plant's base for reproduction.

The leaves of Salvinia natans block sunlight from reaching very far underwater. This is helpful to many freshwater fish, providing safe hiding places to breed in. They can unfortunately interrupt the photosynthesis of many underwater plants.

Another floating plant that can be added with natans is Salvinia cuculata.

• Type: Floating
• Care: Easy
• pH: Wide range
• Growth Rate: Fast
• Light Demand: Moderate to High
• CO₂: Low