Water-Hyacinth

Eichhornia crassipes

eye-CORN-ee-ah  CRASS-ah-peas

Pontederiaceae

Native to: South America

Florida abundance and distribution: Invasive exotic throughout the state, mostly in drainage canals

Recognition: Usually floating or in wet mud.  Leaves thick, glossy dark green, 5-16 cm long X 2-16 cm wide, with inflated petiole floats.  Flowers funnel-shaped with 6 toothed petals, white, blue, and purple, the uppermost petal with a yellow spot, open only one day.

Other: This FLEPPC Category I invasive species can cover water surfaces so extensively it can block navigation and cause oxygen deprivation (when it decays) and light deprivation to aquatic life.

Contributed by: Sarah Lopinot