text: Distribution The Brazilian floating fern known as Salvinia molesta is now widely distributed in tropical and subtropical areas. This floating fern is known for its capability to take over large bodies of slow-moving fresh water.  S. molesta has been naturalized in Texas and Louisiana, but has now also been found and reported in Alabama, Mississippi, Florida, and Georgia. It can also be found where the lower Colorado River borders Arizona and California.  "While S. molesta rapidly colonizes new states, current populations are too small to assess, but have been targeted for eradication". The naturalized regions of Texas have 14 drainage basins that contain infested water bodies; these are used as impoundments on tributaries that flow near federally protected wetlands. In October 2020 Texas Parks and Wildlife detected S. molesta on Lone Star Lake while surveying fish populations.
  Reproduction
  It reproduces by asexual reproduction only, but it is capable of growing extremely quickly, starting from small fragments and doubling in dry weight every 2.2–2.5 days. It grows from fragments that have broken off or dormant buds that have been detached from the main plant. Each node has five buds, so potential for great and rapid spread is high. It also produces spores, but they are genetically defective and do not produce viable offspring.