Eichhornia crassipes — common water-hyacinth
![Plant form: Eichhornia crassipes. ~ By Arthur Haines. ~ Copyright © 2024 Arthur Haines. ~ arthur.d.haines[at]gmail.com](https://newfs.s3.amazonaws.com/taxon-images-1000s1000/Pontederiaceae/eichhornia-crassipes-ha-ahaines-b.jpg)
![Flowers: Eichhornia crassipes. ~ By Arthur Haines. ~ Copyright © 2024 Arthur Haines. ~ arthur.d.haines[at]gmail.com](https://newfs.s3.amazonaws.com/taxon-images-1000s1000/Pontederiaceae/eichhornia-crassipes-fl-ahaines-a.jpg)
![Inflorescences: Eichhornia crassipes. ~ By Gerry Carr. ~ Copyright © 2024 Gerry Carr. ~ gdcarr[at]comcast.net ~ Oregon Flora Image Project - www.botany.hawaii.edu/faculty/carr/ofp/ofp_index.htm](https://newfs.s3.amazonaws.com/taxon-images-1000s1000/Pontederiaceae/eichhornia-crassipes-in-gcarr1.jpg)
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Facts
Common water-hyacinth is one of the world's most aggressive aquatic weeds, especially in the tropics, where it chokes slow-moving streams and ponds, altering habitats and out-competing native species. Native to Brazil, water-hyacinth was introduced to North America in 1884, and its control remains expensive and labor-intensive. It has been collected in Connecticut.
Habitat
Lacustrine (in lakes or ponds), riverine (in rivers or streams)
New England distribution
Adapted from BONAP data
Native: indigenous.
Non-native: introduced (intentionally or unintentionally); has become naturalized.
County documented: documented to exist in the county by evidence (herbarium specimen, photograph). Also covers those considered historical (not seen in 20 years).
State documented: documented to exist in the state, but not documented to a county within the state. Also covers those considered historical (not seen in 20 years).
Note: when native and non-native populations both exist in a county, only native status is shown on the map.
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enlargeCharacteristics
- Habitat
- aquatic
- New England state
-
- Connecticut
- Massachusetts
- New Hampshire
-
Place
- Habitat
- aquatic
- New England state
-
- Connecticut
- Massachusetts
- New Hampshire
- Specific habitat
-
- in lakes or ponds
- in rivers or streams
Wetland status
Occurs only in wetlands. (Wetland indicator code: OBL)
In New England
Distribution
- Connecticut
- present
- Maine
- absent
- Massachusetts
- present
- New Hampshire
- present
- Rhode Island
- absent
- Vermont
- absent
Conservation status
Exact status definitions can vary from state to state. For details, please check with your state.
- Massachusetts
- not applicable (S-rank: SNA)
From Flora Novae Angliae dichotomous key
1. Eichhornia crassipes (Mart.) Solms-Laubach E
common water-hyacinth. Eichhornia speciosa Kunth; Piaropus crassipes (Mart.) Raf. • CT, MA, NH. Slow-moving streams, ponds.
Native to North America?
No
Synonyms
- Eichhornia speciosa Kunth
- Piaropus crassipes (Mart.) Raf.