| waterhyacinth |
USDA PLANTS Symbol: EICR USDA ARS GRIN: 318848 ITIS: 42623 NAPIS: PECABBA |
| Eichhornia crassipes (Mart.) Solms | |
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Taxonomic Rank: Liliopsida: Liliales: Pontederiaceae |
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| Synonym(s): floating water hyacinth | |
Waterhyacinth is a free floating aquatic plant that has invaded aquatic areas throughout the eastern and southern portions of the United States. Plants can grow to 3 ft. (1 m) in height. The leaves are oval to elliptical, thick, up to 6 in. (15 cm) wide and waxy with spongy petioles. Leaves curve inward at the edges. The very showy blue-purple flowers are born on upright spikes. Each flower has six petals with the uppermost having a yellow patch. Waterhyacinth invades lakes, ponds, rivers, marshes, and other types of wetland habitats. It reproduces chiefly by vegetative means and can quickly form dense floating mats of vegetation (populations can double in size in two weeks!). These dense mats restrict light to the underwater environment, reduce the light availability for submersed plants and aquatic invertebrates, and deplete the oxygen levels. Waterhyacinth is native to South America and was first introduced as an ornamental into the United States in 1884 at the Cotton States Exposition in New Orleans. |
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Identification, Biology, Control and Management Resources
- Global Invasive Species Database - Invasive Species Specialist Group
- Invasive Plant Atlas of New England - University of Connecticut
- Identification and Biology of Non-Native Plants in Florida's Natural Areas - University of Florida
- Element Stewardship Abstract - The Nature Conservancy
- Southeast Exotic Pest Plant Council Invasive Plant Manual - SE-EPPC
- Biological Control of Invasive Plants in the Eastern United States - USDA Forest Service
| Selected Images from Invasive.org | View All Images at Invasive.org |
 Flower(s); Wendy VanDyk Evans, , Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Flower(s); Wilfredo Robles, Mississippi State University, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Foliage; Leaves with inflated petiole Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Feature(s); Cross-section of petiole Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Plant(s); single plant on sidewalk Forest & Kim Starr, U.S. Geological Survey, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Plant(s); Dense mat of Eichornia crassipes, Water Hyacinth Katherine Parys, Louisiana State University, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Infestation; Chris Evans, River to River CWMA, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Infestation; John D. Byrd, Mississippi State University, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Infestation; habit Forest & Kim Starr, U.S. Geological Survey, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Infestation; Karen Brown, University of Florida, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Management; Tony Pernas, USDI National Park Service, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Seed(s); Steve Hurst, USDA NRCS PLANTS Database, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
Taxonomic References:
- USDA, NRCS. 2001. The PLANTS Database, Version 3.1, National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, LA 70874-4490 USA.
Invasive Listing Sources:
- Delaware Natural Resources and Environmental Control, 2004
- Faith Campbell, 1998. Plants that Hog the Garden: Invasive Plants in the United States. Fine Gardening Online
- Gulf of Mexico Regional Panel, Aquatic Nuisance Species Annual Report, 2001
- John Randall, The Nature Conservancy, Survey of TNC Preserves, 1995.
- Mid-Atlantic Exotic Pest Plant Council, 2005
- Nonnative Invasive Species in Southern Forest and Grassland Ecosystems
- WeedUS - Database of Plants Invading Natural Areas in the United States
- Alabama Invasive Plant Council
- Alabama Noxious Weeds Class C Noxious Weed
- Arkansas Noxious Weeds Noxious/Prohibited
- Arizona Noxious Weeds
- California Invasive Plant Council
- California Noxious Weeds
- Connecticut Noxious Weeds
- Alachua County Cogongrass Initiative
- Apalachicola Invasive Working Group
- Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council Category I
- Treasure Coast Cooperative Invasive Species Mgmt. Area - EARLY DRAFT
- Georgia Exotic Pest Plant Council Category 1
- Idaho Noxious Weeds
- South Carolina Noxious Weeds
- Texas Noxious Weeds
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