Pest Photo

Troy Evans, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Bugwood.org

Giant Salvinia; Karibaweed

Salvinia molesta

Giant Salvinia; Karibaweed (Salvinia molesta) is an invasive plant. It was first detected in Texas in 1998.

Salvinia molesta is closely related to Salvinia auriculata, these are two of the world's most noxious aquatic weeds. They are notorious for dominating slow moving or quiet freshwater. Their rapid growth, vegetative reproduction and tolerance to environmental stress make them aggressive, competitive species known to impact aquatic environments, water use and local economies.

For more information about this plant pest, see the CABI data sheet.