Additionally, as the plants die and decay they can cause a decrease in dissolved oxygen in the water body. Both of these actions will severely reduce the habitat available for fish within the water body. Salvinia is an aquatic fern with oblong leaves, to 1 inches in length. During early stages of growth plants are smaller and leaves lie flat on the water surface. As plants mature and aggregate into mats, leaves are folded and compress into upright chains.
Submersed fronds are filamentous, resembling roots, and concealing chains of egg-shaped sporocarps.
Salvinia molesta was most likely introduced through the aquarium and landscaping trades. This plant has been sold under many common names including water velvet, salvinia, giant salvinia, African pyle, aquarium watermoss, kariba weed, water fern, and koi kandy. One possible route of infestation is that an individual may dump it in a nearby canal, pond, ditch or lake when it overgrows the home aquaria or koi ponds. From there the plant begins to spread and infest adjacent waterways. Many people who have exotic animals and plants release them when they are no longer convenient to care for.