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Water Hyacinth

A tropical American herb (Eichhornia crassipes) forming dense floating masses in ponds and streams and having large bluish purple flowers and leafstalks with greatly inflated bases.

Water Hyacinth - Eichhornia (Eichhor’nia) is native to South America. It is a free-floating, robust plant, which grows up to three feet off the water surface. It has shiny green leaves which are round to oval, 4-8 inches in diameter, with gently in curved sides, the leaf veins being dense and numerous so leaves stand erect. The flowers have six petals, purplish blue or lavender in colour.

Common name	Local names	Botanical name	Available region in India
Water Hyacinth	Jammu (Telugu)	Eichhornia crassipes	Largely in South India

Water hyacinth are tender, aquatic perennials, commonly known as Water Hyacinths. These pretty plants easily reproduce and can become a huge nuisance if care is not taken. Water Hyacinths multiply so quickly that they can choke lakes, rivers and canals. It thrives in tropical regions and in waters that are high in nutrients. The leaves are kept afloat by air pockets in the bulbous areas. Spikes of flowers are produced on 6 inch stems; they are bluish to lilac, each dotted with a yellow eye. Each flower lasts only a day. E. azura is a pretty variety that produces pale blue, funnel-shaped flowers in pairs atop upright stems; they have dark blue throats and slightly fuzzy external surfaces. The leaves may be ribbon-like to spoon shaped.

These plants need warm temperatures; in cold climates, they need to be wintered indoors in lighted aquariums with 70 degree or higher temperatures. It has a dense mass of long, black roots trailing underneath, which provide spawning and hiding areas for fish.

Some of the water hyacinth products