Oshuna crassipes (Mart.) A. Haines

Common Water Hyacinth

Herb

Annual

Vascular

Common Water Hyacinth is an introduced free-floating herbaceous perennial in the Water-Hyacinth family (Pontederiaceae). It is native to the Amazon region of South America. In Alabama it has been found statewide. Common Water Hyacinth is typically free-floating but can be rooted in the mud along the banks of streams, ponds, and lakes. It has a fibrous root system composed of a dense mass of free hanging feathery purple-black roots. Common Water Hyacinth is clonal by elongate horizontal or arching rhizomes. Stems are erect, short, submersed and growing to surface, or emersed and short. Leaves are sessile and form a basal rosette. The leaves typically have a swollen, spongy petiole and an ovate blade. The blade is entire and glabrous. Flowers are produced in erect 4-15 flowered spikes. The flowers are funnelform, blue or purplish in color, 6 lobed with the upper lobe having a darker blue area surrounding a central yellow spot. There are 6 stamens of two different lengths. All flowers open with 2 hours of sunrise and wither by nightfall. Common Water Hyacinth is listed as a Category 1 invasive species by the Alabama Invasive Plant Council and is classified as a noxious weed by the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries. The sale or shipment of Common Water Hyacinth was banned in the United States in 1956, but this regulation was repealed in 2020. Common Water Hyacinth can block waterways, impede water intakes, and impact fishing and boating. They block sunlight from penetrating the water, out compete native vegetation, and effect water quality. Common Water Hyacinth has been used in waste water treatment to remove heavy metals and other toxins, as a source of biomass, and as animal food.—A. Diamond.

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Not Native OBL (NWPL)

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