Eichhornia crassipes (Mart.) Solms

Description:

Jeniang, Kedah, Malaysia.Eichhornia crassipes (Mart.) Solms. Pontederiaceae. CN: [Malay - Keladi bunting, Kambling telur, Bunga jamban], Lilac devil, Water hyacinth. Native to Northern South America (French Guiana, Guyana, Suriname, Venezuela, Brazil). Widely naturalized in tropics and subtropics. Ornamental, Soil improver (green manure). Plants perennial , typically free-floating. Vegetative stems condensed, except when branching. Flowering stems erect , bending over after flowering, to 25 cm, distal internode less than 4 cm. Sessile leaves in basal rosette. Very prolific growth and the dense mat-like floating vegetation contributed to clogged drains, waterways and rivers. Probably the most aggressive aquatic weed ever known in the tropics. Eradication of filariasis was also claimed hindered by this plant due to the ability of the Mansonia mosquito larvae to breathe via the spongy airy roots.Synonym(s):Pontederia crassipes Mart. Eichhornia speciosa Kunth [Illegitimate] Piaropus crassipes (Mart.) Raf.Eichhornia cordifolia Gand. [Illegitimate] Eichhornia crassicaulis Schltdl. Eichhornia crassicaulis Schlecht. Heteranthera formosa Miq. Ref. & suggested reading:FRIM Flora DatabaseKamus Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka, Malaysiawww.theplantlist.org/tpl/record/kew-242133www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/taxon.pl?318848