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Water Hyacinth: Facts, benefits, grow and care tips

Water hyacinth: Facts, features, growth, maintenance, and uses

What is water hyacinth?

The common water hyacinth is a South American natural aquatic plant. Water hyacinth’s scientific name is Pontederia crassipes (formerly known as Eichhornia crassipes). However, it has been naturalised all over the world and can become invasive when it is grown outside of its original habitat. 

Within the Pontederia genus, this one species makes up the entirety of the subgenus known as Oshunae. Due to the fact that it has invasive growth characteristics, it is sometimes referred to as the “terror of Bengal.”

Source: Pinterest

 

Water hyacinth: Key facts

Common name Water hyacinth
Family  Pontederiaceae
Native Area South America
Maximum growth  3ft.
Water Quality 5-7.5
Sun exposure Full/partial sun
Bloom Period Summers

See also: All about the Wishbone Flower

Water hyacinth: Features

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How to grow Water Hyacinth

 

Water hyacinth: Maintenance tips 

What can be done to stop the spread of Water Hyacinth?

Water Hyacinth can be stopped by using physical, chemical, and biological methods.

Physical way: Spread of water hyacinth can be done in a physical way by cutting the plant. You can use manual ways and machines for the same.

Chemical way: Chemicals like glyphosate, diquat and 2,4‐D amine, metsulfuron-methyl, sulfosate and sulfentrazone  can help in spread of water hyacinth.

Biological way: Environment friendly ways like use of water hyacinth borer, Neochetina bruchi, N. eichhorniae feed on water hyacinth. By this way, their size gets reduced, vegetative propagation gets reduced and also impacts seed production.

Water hyacinth: Water treatment uses

 

Water hyacinth: Medicinal uses


Water hyacinth: Edible uses

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FAQs

Is the water hyacinth a plant that can be toxic to humans?

The leaves of the water hyacinth are not known to cause severe poisoning.

Do water hyacinths release oxygen into the air?

There is no production of oxygen by water hyacinth.

Is it possible for water hyacinths to thrive in saline water?

The high quantities of salt in the water make it difficult for water hyacinth to spread.

Why is water hyacinth known as the terror of Bengal?

Water hyacinth is an exotic shrub, but it grows at an alarming rate on the surface of a water body. This prevents the growth of aquatic organisms, such as fish, due to a lack of oxygen and light.

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