Georgia Wildlife Resources Division
2070 U.S. Hwy. 278, SE, Social Circle, GA 30025
Giant salvinia (Salvinia molesta) is also known as Kariba weed, African pyle, aquarium watermoss, koi kandy. This plant is one of the worlds most noxious aquatic weeds and is notorious for dominating slow moving or quiet freshwaters. Its rapid growth, vegetative reproduction and tolerance to environmental stress make it an aggressive, competitive species known to impact aquatic environments, water use and local economies.
Giant salvinia is native to South America and has been introduced to several countries around the world (including the US). Giant salvinia has been found in Georgia at four locations since 1999.
More details about these locations (including photos) [1]
[2]Maps of all watershed areas involved [3]
Edie Creek, Lamar County GA 1999
Edie Creek, Lamar County GA 1999
For information on how to identify this plant visit the United States Geologic Survey Nonindigenous Aquatic Species website [4].
Comparative information to identify three species of Salvinia [5]
Giant Salvinia information flier [6] - Texas Parks and Wildlife/USGS/USFWS (Adobe PDF format)
If you find an unusual aquatic plant growing in your pond or in public waters, contact your nearest Fisheries Office [7] for identification assistance and further information.
Some of the information on this page is courtesy of USGS NAS [8] website.
Links:
[1] http://salvinia.er.usgs.gov/html/distribution_map.html#georgia
[2] http://http//salvinia.er.usgs.gov/html/distribution_map.html#georgia
[3] http://salvinia.er.usgs.gov/html/dist_ga_map.html
[4] http://salvinia.er.usgs.gov/html/identification.html
[5] http://salvinia.er.usgs.gov/html/comparison.html
[6] http://salvinia.er.usgs.gov/salvinia.pdf
[7] http://www.georgiawildlife.com/OfficeContact
[8] http://nas.er.usgs.gov/