Water Hyacinth

Description:

The base of the petioles is swollen and keeps much of the plant floating on top of the water. The flowers are light blue to violet. The highest of the five petals has a yellow spot enclosed in a darker area.

Habitat:

Edge of lake

Notes:

This plant was originally from South America but introduced into all tropical areas because of its beautiful flowers. However, in many areas, it grew out of control. In addition to reproducing from its seeds, it reproduces from runners, and almost any segment can grow into a plant. In this way a single rosette can produce more than 3000 descendants in a year. In SE Asia it serves as an almost inexhaustible source of food for pigs.