Salvinia biloba Raddi

Yañez, A., Marquez, G. J., Berrueta, P. C. & García, R. A., 2021, An urban fern refugium: Municipal Ecological Reserve of Avellaneda (Eco Área) (Buenos Aires, Argentina), Blumea 66 (3), pp. 227-235 : 233

Salvinia biloba Raddi

Origin — Native. It is distributed along the Plata basin in Argentina, southern Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay. In Argentina, it grows in northeastern provinces.

Habitat & Ecology — Aquatic, floating. It forms large populations that cover reservoirs, artificial and natural lakes and channels.

Location within the reserve — It was found in small populations, growing in a temporary pond next to the park rangers’ house.

Observations — Years prior to starting the present study, the temporary presence of unidentified specimens of Salvinia had been observed growing in bodies of stagnant or low-flow water found within the Eco Área (García pers. obs.). However, during the trips made in 2018 and 2019 these populations were not found, as well as any other species of aquatic fern. Recently, during 2020, a population was recorded in a flooded area where the invasive species Iris pseudacorus was removed.

Illustration and morphological description reference — Arana (2016).

Studied specimen. ARGENTINA, Buenos Aires, Mun.Avellaneda, Reserva Ecológica Municipal de Avellaneda (Eco Área), Yañez et al. 568 (BA), 22-XII-2020 .