This fern is a live aquarium plant that floats and grows quickly when the right nutrients and light are available. Its thin leaves indicate a lack of nutritional trace elements. It often "steals" light from other plants in the aquarium. The leaves have tiny hairs that make them waterproof. The plant helps combat algae by shading certain areas of the aquarium and absorbing nutrients from the water. In nature, it grows rapidly, and it does so in the aquarium as well when conditions are ideal. It is suitable for aquariums without a cover. Previously, it was known as Salvinia natans.