water hyacinth
Invasive aquatic plant
Water hyacinth is a floating aquatic plant with glossy leaves and showy lavender flowers, native to South America but now widespread in warm freshwater worldwide.
It reproduces rapidly and forms dense mats that choke waterways, block sunlight, and deplete oxygen—making it one of the world's most invasive plants: The lake was impassable, covered entirely by water hyacinth.
Staying atop liquid
- freshwaterNon-saline aquatic environment
- pondsSmall freshwater bodies
- lakesLarge inland water bodies
- riversFlowing bodies of water
wetlands · marshes · canals · reservoirs · tropical · subtropical · rosette · stolons
Range of life forms
- habitatOrganism's natural environment
- ecologyStudy of environmental relations
- eutrophicationExcess nutrients depleting oxygen
- oxygenationAdding breathable gas
detritus · phytoplankton · native · displacement · fish · waterbirds · mosquitoes · decomposition
Serving to beautify
- landscapingModifying outdoor areas aesthetically
- pondSmall still body
- gardenCultivated plant area
- aestheticConcerning beauty or art
feature · tropical · showy · lavender · flowers · purple · blooms · cultivated
Plant reproductive structures
- lavenderFragrant herb, pale violet
- purpleHue between crimson and azure
- spikeSharp rise or point
- inflorescencePlant's complete bloom arrangement
petals · showy · pollination · nectar · flowering · seasonal · mass · flowering
Pest takeover situation
- overgrowthUncontrolled plant expansion
- non-nativeNot indigenous here
- noxiousHarmful, especially when inhaled
- weedUninvited plant
eradication · control · management · spread · displacement · clogging · biocontrol · proliferation
floating
Staying atop liquid
- freshwaterNon-saline aquatic environment
- pondsSmall freshwater bodies
- lakesLarge inland water bodies
rivers · wetlands · marshes · canals · reservoirs · tropical · subtropical · rosette · stolons · inflated
biodiversity
Range of life forms
- habitatOrganism's natural environment
- ecologyStudy of environmental relations
- eutrophicationExcess nutrients depleting oxygen
oxygenation · detritus · phytoplankton · native · displacement · fish · waterbirds · mosquitoes · decomposition · nutrient
decorative
Serving to beautify
- landscapingModifying outdoor areas aesthetically
- pondSmall still body
- gardenCultivated plant area
aesthetic · feature · tropical · showy · lavender · flowers · purple · blooms · cultivated · greenhouse
flowers
Plant reproductive structures
inflorescence · petals · showy · pollination · nectar · flowering · seasonal · mass · flowering · ornate
infestation
Pest takeover situation
- overgrowthUncontrolled plant expansion
- non-nativeNot indigenous here
- noxiousHarmful, especially when inhaled
weed · eradication · control · management · spread · displacement · clogging · biocontrol · proliferation · encroachment
- aquatic plantseelgrass, sea grass, lotus, kelp, pondweed
- bayoualligator, gator, cypress tree, cypress trees, marshland
- freshwater lifecatfish, trout, bass, salmon, frog
- swampalligator, bayou, bald cypress, cattail, cottonmouth
- swampsbayou, bayous, bald cypress, cypress swamps, alligators
- water plantsduckweed, waterlily, pondweed, lily pads, waterweed
water hyacintheelgrass
Submerged marine flowering plant
pondweed · seagrass · water lily · lotus · cattail
water hyacinthwild rice
North American aquatic cereal
keystone species · bulrush · sedge · eelgrass · mangrove
water hyacinthdesert plants
Flora adapted to drought
xerophytes · cactus · saguaro · succulents · agave
water, waterway, aquatic, hydrate, hydration, waterways, hyacinth, hydraulic, hydrating