Water hyacinth

Water Hyacinth Latest News

A thick blanket of water hyacinth covers the Mula river near Holkar Bridge, raising alarms among residents about the river’s deteriorating condition. 

About Water Hyacinth

• It is a free-floating, aquatic plant in the pickerelweed family.
• Scientific Name: Eichhornia crassipes
• It is native to tropical regions of South America and is now present on all continents except Antarctica.
• It is one of the world’s most serious water weeds because of its aggressive, fast-growing nature.
• It can form dense mats that reduce the water quality, change water flows, and increase sediment. 
• It crowds out native aquatic plants and animals, altering ecosystems, destroying habitats, and blocking irrigation systems.
• It has thick, glossy green leaves and lavender to violet flowers with a yellow spot.
• It was introduced to India during the British colonial rule as an ornamental aquatic plant from South America. 

Water Hyacinth Uses

• The plant has been used as a biofertilizer in some organic agriculture practices.
• The plant produces beautiful purple flowers that have high aesthetic value. 
• It is rich in fibrous stems that can be processed into a wide array of handbags, interior decorative material, table mats, baskets, and other products.
• It has been reported that this plant is a good phytoremediation species, suggesting it has the ability to trap and remove toxic metabolites and harmful heavy metals from water. 

Water Hyacinth FAQs

Q1. Why is water hyacinth harmful?

Ans. Water-hyacinth blocks waterways and limits boat traffic, recreation, flood control and wildlife use

Q2. Why is water hyacinth called the Terror of Bengal?

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Ans. Water hyacinth is called the “Terror of Bengal” due to its highly invasive nature and the severe environmental and economic problems it causes in the region.

Q3. What is water hyacinth good for?

Ans. The water hyacinth collected can be used to feed animals, or processed to improve the soil, as compost or biochar.

Source: TOI