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Eichhornia crassipes
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Photo: Mark Hyde
Mutoko CL
Photo: Mark Hyde
Mutoko CL
Photo: Mark Hyde
Mutoko CL
Photo: Bart Wursten
Mana Pools
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| Synonyms: |
Pontederia crassipes Mart. |
| Common names: | Water hyacinth (English) |
| Frequency: | |
| Status: | |
| Description: |
Herb, usually free-floating but occasionally rooted in mud, 4-40 cm. Leaves 4-8, clustered on short rhizomes, erect, very variable; in free-floating plants: petiole 5-10 cm, markedly swollen below; lamina 4-9 cm wide, ovate to circular; in older plants rooted in mud, the petiole is longer and not swollen. Inflorescence a c.8-flowered showy spike, raised above leaves. Perianth tube 20 mm, curved; limb 5-7 cm in diameter, slightly 2-lipped, pale mauve with the central lobe broadest with large blue area and central yellow spot. |
| Notes: | |
| Derivation of specific name: | crassipes: thick-footed or thick-stalked. |
| Habitat: | |
| Altitude range: | |
| Flowering time: | |
| Worldwide distribution: | Tropical and subtropical America and widely naturalised throughout the tropics. |
| Growth form(s): | Aquatic. |
| Endemic status: | |
| Red data list status: | |
| Insects associated with this species: | Neochetina eichhorniae (Food plant) |
| Spot characters: | Display spot characters for this species |
| Literature: |
Bandeira, S., Bolnick, D. & Barbosa, F. (2007). Wild Flowers of Southern Mozambique Universidade Eduardo Mondlane, Maputo, Mozambique Page 53. (Includes a picture). Baumann, G. (2005). Photographic Guide to Wildflowers of Malawi Wildlife and Environmental Society of Malawi Pages 238 - 239. (Includes a picture). Catarino, L. & Martins, E.S. (1996). The Pontederiaceae of the Flora Zambesiaca Area Kirkia 16(1) Pages 23 - 24. Catarino, L. & Martins, E.S. (2010). Pontederiaceae Flora Zambesiaca 13(2) Pages 72 - 74. Da Silva, M.C., Izidine, S. & Amude, A.B. (2004). A preliminary checklist of the vascular plants of Mozambique. Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 30 Sabonet, Pretoria Page 162. Henderson, L. (2001). Alien weeds and invasive plants Plant Protection Research Institute Handbook No. 12. Plant Protection Research Institute, Agricultural Research Council, South Africa. Page 21. (Includes a picture). Henderson, L. & Cilliers, C.J. (2002). Invasive Aquatic Plants Plant Protection Research Institute Handbook No. 16. Plant Protection Research Institute, Agricultural Research Council, South Africa. Pages 10 - 15. (Includes a picture). Mapaura, A. & Timberlake, J. (eds) (2004). A checklist of Zimbabwean vascular plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 33 Sabonet, Pretoria and Harare Page 112. Phiri, P.S.M. (2005). A Checklist of Zambian Vascular Plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 32 Page 137. Pickering, H. & Roe, E. (2009). Wild Flowers of the Victoria Falls Area Helen Pickering, London Page 99. (Includes a picture). Pooley, E. (1998). A Field Guide to the Wild Flowers of KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Region. Natal Flora Publications Trust. Durban. Pages 448 - 449. (Includes a picture). Wild, H. (1955). Common Rhodesian Weeds Government of Rhodesia, Salisbury Page 10. (Includes a picture). |
Other sources of information about Eichhornia crassipes:
Our websites:
Flora of the DRC: Eichhornia crassipesFlora of Malawi: Eichhornia crassipes
Flora of Mozambique: Eichhornia crassipes
Flora of Rwanda: Eichhornia crassipes
Flora of Zambia: Eichhornia crassipes
Flora of Zimbabwe: Eichhornia crassipes
External websites:
African Plants: A Photo Guide (Senckenberg): Eichhornia crassipesAfrican Plant Database: Eichhornia crassipes
BHL (Biodiversity Heritage Library): Eichhornia crassipes
EOL (Encyclopedia of Life): Eichhornia crassipes
GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility): Eichhornia crassipes
Google: Web - Images - Scholar
iNaturalist: Eichhornia crassipes
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Eichhornia crassipes
JSTOR Plant Science: Eichhornia crassipes
Mansfeld World Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops: Eichhornia crassipes
Plants of the World Online: Eichhornia crassipes
Tropicos: Eichhornia crassipes
Wikipedia: Eichhornia crassipes
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