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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Fort Lauderdale, Florida » Invasive Plant Research Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #255009

Title: Water Hyacinth

Author
item HILL, M - Rhodes University
item COETZEE, J - Rhodes University
item JULIEN, M - Commonwealth Scientific And Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO)
item Center, Ted

Submitted to: Encyclopedia of Introduced Invasive Species
Publication Type: Book / Chapter
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/4/2010
Publication Date: 10/25/2010
Citation: Hill, M.H., Coetzee, J., Julien, M., Center, T.D. 2010. Water Hyacinth. Encyclopedia of Introduced Invasive Species. p. 689-992.

Interpretive Summary: An important new reference book entitled the “Encyclopedia of Invasive Introduced Species” is being published by the University of California Press. We were invited to provide a chapter on water hyacinth, which is the world’s worst aquatic weed. In this chapter, we provide information on the origin of the plant, its taxonomy and classification, a description and brief biology, the world-wide distribution, its ecological and economic impact, and means of control. In the end, we note that a myriad of methods are available to control it but they need to be integrated. We also point out that eutrophication of aquatic systems is the primary causative factor which has to be dealt with in order to limit this aquatic menace.

Technical Abstract: An important new reference book entitled the “Encyclopedia of Invasive Introduced Species” is being published by the University of California Press. We were invited to provide a chapter on water hyacinth, which is the world’s worst aquatic weed. In this chapter, we provide information on the origin of the plant, its taxonomy and classification, a description and brief biology, the world-wide distribution, its ecological and economic impact, and means of control. In the end, we note that a myriad of methods are available to control it but they need to be integrated. We also point out that eutrophication of aquatic systems is the primary causative factor which has to be dealt with in order to limit this aquatic menace.