Water Hyacinth

Appearance and Properties

DESCRIPTION
Water hyacinth is a floating waterweed up to 65 cm tall and the leaves are
dark green rounded leaves up to 5–10 cm in diameter. Leaf stalks of young
plants are swollen into spongy, bulbous structures; mature plants have
elongated leaf stalks. An erect stalk supports a single spike of 8 to 15 flowers.
Flowers are light purple with a darker blue-purple with yellow centers, 4–6
cm long, and 3.5–5 cm wide. They are carried in dense spikes projecting
above the plant. Fruit capsules are 10–15 mm long, and contain up to 300
seeds. Seeds are egg-shaped, 0.5–1.5 mm long. The root system is extensive
(up to 1 m) feathery, fibrous, and black to purple.

THINGS TO NOTICE ABOUT WATER HYACINTH

● Large spike of lavender-blue flowers
● Spongy, bulbous leaf stalks
● Large rounded glossy leaves
DISTRIBUTION
Water hyacinth thrives in a wide range of freshwater habitats (shallow ponds,
marshes, small streams, lakes, and rivers) provided they are not saline or do not
become saline during drought. The most favorable conditions are average
temperatures ranging from 14 to 29°C, water pH of about 7, low salinity, N, P, K-
rich water, full sunlight, and absence of physical disturbance or pests. Under such
conditions, water hyacinth readily establishes and forms dense mats due to its
efficient vegetative reproduction. The plant cover can double within 6-15 days.
The growth of water hyacinth is hampered by low temperatures (below 13°C),
nutrient scarcity, frost, and salinity. It has a low tolerance for flooding, as the
physical disturbance caused by the waves breaks the mat and leaves of the plant
stranded on the land. Drought and frost also quickly kill the stand.