WATER+HYACINTH

WATER HYACINTH Names: E.crassipes-common water hyacinth

Description: The Water Hyacinth is an an aquatic plant(grows in water) that comes from tropical South America. It has broad thick, glossy, oval shaped leaves. It can grow above the water surface as much as 1 metre. The roots are purple- black. It produces 8-15 flowers with 6 petals-lavender-pink in colour.and it produces alot of seeds that last for up to 30 yrs!!

Country of Origin: originated in South America

History of the plant in South Africa:The Water Hyacinyh was brought to South Africa for it's beauty and was used for decoration

Category of Alien plant: category 1

Distribution in South Africa: Throughout South Africa

Habitat:The Water Hyacinth is found in water and provides a habitat for mosquitos and snails

Problems/Dangers to the local habitat:The Water Hyacinth uses up most of the oxygen in water which can kill the animals in the waterand disturbs the natural life cycle

Methods of eradication:1(physical control)-plucking it out yourself 2(chemical control)-controlling the spread using herbicides(a substance used to kill unwanted vegetation) 3(biological control)the use of the plants natural enemies(insects)from the plants native region

Success of eradication: There is still not enough information to see if it is working