Salvinia auriculata is a species of plant in the Salviniaceae known by the common names eared watermoss,[1] African payal (Malayalam: ആഫ്രിക്കൻ പായൽ), and butterfly fern.

[2] It is native to the Americas from Mexico south to Argentina and Chile.

It is cultivated as an ornamental plant and it has become naturalized in the wild in some places.

[2] This species is hard to distinguish from other Salvinia.

[4] This plant has long been known as an invasive species.