Water hyacinth: Adding value to a noxious weed

Abstract

Water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) is a perennial, free-floating aquatic weed which is notorious for its rapid reproduction. The plant is indigenous to the Amazon River basin in South America, but is now found in lakes, dams, rivers and swamps in tropical and subtropical countries worldwide. The plant comprises dark green, thick, glossy leaves attached to spongy petioles containing air-filled sacs that enable it to float on water.

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