Common Name: Water hyacinth
Scientific Name: Eichhornia crassipes
Family: Pontederiaceae
Nepali Name: Jal kumvi ( जल कुम्भी )
Size: 1-1.5m (height) 
Location: Fewa Tal, Pokhara

A free-floating perennial aquatic plant, Water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) is found in wetlands from 75m to 1500m elevation and is a problem in lakes like Fewa tal, Begnas etc here in Nepal. These invasive species can grow up to 1m and can double their population in two weeks. Water hyacinth is native to the Amazon basin and falls on the list of one of the worst invasive species in the world. This plant was introduced around the world for various reasons and one of them is because of the beautiful flower/ornamental plant. 

Eichhornia crassipes grow very fast and the mats can double in size in one to two weeks to the point where they can cover the whole water surface. Every year a lot of resources are used to clean up the lakes and water surfaces where it’s been affected. The invasion makes traveling through the waterways hard and the worst part is that it degrades the water quality, blocks the sunlight from reaching the native aquatic plant, becomes a good habitat for mosquitos, etc. 

The flower blooms from April to November and is purple/lavender/light pink with six petals of which one bears a yellow spot. The flowers are on a single spike which holds up to 8 – 15 flowers. The leaves are 10-20cm ovate, thick and glossy, and float on buoyant bulb-like nodules located at its base above the water surface. The plant reproduces primarily by way of runners or stolons, which eventually form daughter plants. Each plant additionally can produce thousands of seeds each year, and these seeds can remain viable.

Please feel free to comment below if the above species has been misidentified.

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2 Comments

  1. Bina pradhan

    Can this plant be used for making any handicraft products – if yes what products are made and where?

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