The water hyacinth, which floats on the water’s surface, is native to South America. It has been introduced to virtually all tropical and subtropical regions of the world, including Madagascar. The plant reproduces vegetatively. The runners of a single plant can cover several hundred square meters of water surface within a few months. It has therefore become a troublesome weed that clogs rivers, lakes, canals, dams, and rice paddies. It hinders navigation and harms fisheries. Because of this threat, but also because of its beautiful blue-violet flowers, the plant is called the “beautiful monster.” Scientists, commissioned by governments and international organizations, have begun experiments to control the plant using introduced weevils, moths, grasshoppers, and fungi.
The African moorhen (blue-browed moorhen) uses the water hyacinth as a “walkway” and as a floating island for its nest.
Distribution
South America
Use
The plant's fibers can be used to make furniture, mats, ropes, paper, fertilizer, biogas, and animal feed. However, such utilization projects are still in their infancy.
