Pontederia crassipes
(Mart.) Solms
Water hyacinth
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Summary
Source: WikipediaPontederia crassipes (formerly Eichhornia crassipes), commonly known as common water hyacinth, is an aquatic plant native to South America, naturalized throughout the world, and often invasive outside its native range. It is the sole species of the subgenus Oshunae within the genus Pontederia. Anecdotally, it is known as the "terror of Bengal" due to its invasive growth tendencies.
Description
A plant which grows in water. It is 45 cm tall. It floats and continues to grow from year to year. It has stolons or runners. It has rings of rounded leaves up to 15 cm across. The stalks are inflated and pale green. The roots are long and purplish and hang down. They hang 30-100 cm into the water. Roots are shorter when nutrients are plentiful in the water. The leaves are cup shaped. The flowers are pale blue or violet and have yellow markings on the upper petals. The flowers are produced in spikes. The flowers are 3 cm across and the spikes can be 15 cm tall.
Edible Uses
The leaf stalks are used to sour soups, tender buds are cooked as a vegetable, and flowers are used to prepare snacks. Leaves are also sold in local markets, and ash is used as salt.
Traditional Uses
The leaf stalks are used to sour soups. The tender buds are cooked as a vegetable. The flowers are used to prepare snacks. CAUTION: The plant can cause itching. This is partly removed by cooking.
Known Hazards
The plant can cause itching; this is partly removed by cooking.
Distribution
A tropical plant. In Nepal it grows from 200-1500 m altitude. In Indonesia it grows up to 1,600 m above sea level. It grows in moist and boggy areas. It grows in pools and rice fields in S China between 200-500 m altitude. It grows in quiet or slow moving water. It grows in wetlands. Rapid growth occurs in nutrient rich water. It grows to latitudes of 40°. It needs plenty of sunlight. It is damaged by frost. In Argentina it grows up to 1,600 m above sea level. It suits hardiness zones 10-12. In Yunnan.
Where It Grows
Africa, Argentina, Asia, Australia, Belize, Bhutan, Bolivia, Brazil*, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Central Africa, Central African Republic, CAR, Central America, Chile, China, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, East Africa, Ethiopia, Fiji, Guam, Guiana, Guianas, Guyana, Haiti, Hawaii, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Jamaica, Korea, Laos, Madagascar, Maldives, Marquesas, Mexico, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nauru, Nepal, Norfolk Island, North America, Northeastern India, Pacific, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, PNG, Paraguay, Puerto Rico, SE Asia, South America, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Taiwan, Thailand, Uruguay, USA, Venezuela, Vietnam, West Africa, West Indies, Zambia, Zimbabwe,
Cultivation
Plants grow easily from offshoots of the plant. They need a temperature above 15°C and 30-40 cm deep water.
Other Information
Leaves are sold in local markets.
Notes
There are 7-9 Eichhornia species. They are mainly in tropical America. It becomes a major weed problem in tropical lakes, lagoons and rivers. It can be very invasive.
Synonyms
Also Known As
Aguapey, beda-pin, Bunga jamban, Camalote, Fen oakidu, Feng yan lan, Gachili, Jacinta de agua, Jalkumbhi, Jasintandrano, Kam ploek, Lirio de agua, Luc binh, Meteka, Muxie, Pabuduo, Pak-top-chawa, Phak katok, Phak paud, Phak tob
References (65)
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