Water
Hyacinth - Eichhornia crassipes
Family: Pontederiaceae

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Description
Plants grow floating on the water surface, forming stolons. Plants have
very prominent black, stringy roots. Plants sometimes grow stranded in
mud and appear rooted. The leathery leaves appear basal, are suborbicular,
ovate or broadly elliptic with parallel veins; bases are heartshaped,
square, or rounded, apices rounded or flattened. Petioles are usually
spongy-inflated. The inflorescence is a spike with light-blue to bluish-purple
showy flowers marked with yellow streaks. The fruit is many seeded.
Interesting facts
This species is found in the southern U.S., Virginia to southern Florida,
west to Missouri, Texas and California. Plants grow in ponds, canals,
rivers, ditches, and impoundments, reproducing by vegetative runners or
stolons. Seeds do germinate and produce new plants in some part of the
species range.
Plants are notorious for clogging and desiccating canals and waterways
in the southern U.S. By forming new plantlets, a population can completely
dominate and obstruct a body of water in a short period of time. Native
species are excluded, and large populations may affect water quality.
Biocontrol agents (weevils and a moth) are having a significant impact
on waterhyacinth populations.
Links to more information
Website, video, and graphics by Rob Nelson
For more information on this plant or management please contact US Army Corp of Engineers
Water Hyacinth Videos
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