Trees & Plants

Water hyacinth

Fen Oakidu

Eichhornia crassipes (Mart.)

Occasional in water logged marshy areas The plant is an excellent source of biomass for phytoremediation and waste water treatment. It is used as a carotene- rich vegetable and young leaves and petioles are cooked and eaten. The extract has bioherbicidal properties. Its fibres ar

Details

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uses: The plant is an excellent source of biomass for phytoremediation and waste water treatment. It is used as a carotene- rich vegetable and young leaves and petioles are cooked and eaten. The extract has bioherbicidal properties. Its fibres are used to make furniture, handbags and rope. Th reat & damage: It is one of the most noxious invasive plants in the aquatic habitats. The plant was introduced outside its native range as an ornamental for the attractive flowers. Under suitable environmental conditions, it can spread ca. rapidly to form vast monotypic colonies in lakes and rivers adversely affecting aquatic biodiversity, fishing and water transport. Management: Mechanical removal, use of biocontrol agents and careful use of herbicides are to be integrated to achieve good control of the weed.
family: Pontederiaceae
synonym: Pontederia crassipes Mart., Eichhornia speciosa Kunth
description: Aquatic herbs with short stem and many long fibrous roots. Leaves 4.5- × 11 5-10 cm; broadly ovate to rhomboid, entire, obtuse, base cuneate or rounded. Petiole glabrous, spongy, 6-30 cm long, Th with a fusiform bulbous portion about the middle. Peduncle spongy. Inflorescence 6-15 flowered. Flowers lilac, tinged blue, withering soon. Perianth to 5. 5 cm long, its tube green, glandular; segments 3-4 cm long, obovate to ovate-oblong, posterior segment with a yellow spot. The longer 3 stamens ca. 2 mm, filaments curved, glandular hairy; shorter filaments ca. 6 mm long, glabrous; anthers purple-blue. Ovary ovoid, glabrous; style glandular; stigma 3-lobed, glandular. of
native range: South America Solms NARAHDISAS .N/OAF
distribution: Naturalised in the Paleotropics
english names: Water hyacinth
flowering fruiting: November- February
occurrence maldives: Occasional in water logged marshy areas