Eichhornia crassipes (Mart.) Solms. Common Name : Water hyacinthFamily : Pontederiaceae HABIT A FREE-FLOATING OR PARTLY ROOTING PERENNIAL AQUATIC HERB. STEMS WITH NUMEROUS, LONG, FIBROUS ROOTS, SHORT LEAFY. LEAVES IN ROSETTES, SPOON OR PADDLE-SHAPED, APEX ROUNDED, 5-20 CM WIDE; PETIOLES TURBINATELY SWOLLEN AND SPONGY, ENABLING THE PLANT TO FLOAT. FLOWERS MAUVE, LILAC OR BLUE, FUNNEL-SHAPED, 2.5-3.8 CM LONG. FRUITS CAPSULE, MANY-SEEDED.