Water Hyacinth(Eichhornia crassipes)

The water hyacinth is a free-floating plant that has been introduced from South America. It has shiny green, leathery leaves that are oval in shape and gently incurved. The leaves stand erect from thick, spongy stalks and the plant produces a purple flower with six petals. The roots of the hyacinth are dark and feathery. They can multiply into incredibly dense mats and can clog waterways completely from access.