Eichhornia

Water Hyacinth ( Eichhornia crassipes ), inflorescence

The water hyacinth ( Eichhornia ) are a genus of flowering plants in the family of water hyacinth plants ( Pontederiaceae ) in the order of Commelina -like ( Commelinales ) within the angiosperms ( Magnoliopsida ). The scientific genus name Eichhornia honors the Prussian Minister of Culture Johann Albrecht Friedrich von Eichhorn ( 1779-1856 ).

Dissemination

The home is the tropics of South America ( Neotropics ).

Some species have been implicated as ornamental plants in other tropical areas and tend to become overgrown, partially displacing other species and weedy waters (such as the Water Hyacinth, one of the world most invasive neophytes ), the waters silt stronger or lose their ecological balance ( "tip to "); in some cases the shipping is hindered.

Use

The water hyacinths have not recently given by their very proliferation occasion to look for possible applications. Currently (2012 ) Water hyacinths are used as starting material for plaiting and for paper production. They are suitable for feeding of biogas plants and for decontamination of heavy metal polluted waters.

Description

Eichhornia species are mostly perennial, but there are annual herbaceous plants. There are herbaceous, floating water plants that float with inflated petioles. The leaves are all formed at the shoot base, most of the leaves are just above water, but there are also submerged ( under water) forms, the leaves are alternate.

The aged men inflorescences have two bracts ( bracts ) and contain up to 30 flowers. The mostly blue flowers are hermaphroditic, ternate and zygomorphic. You are heterostyl - a property that does not occur in monocot plants otherwise. The three carpels are fused into a superior ovaries. Pollination is by insects ( entomophily ). Are formed capsule fruits or nuts.

System

The genus of the water hyacinth ( Eichhornia ) includes seven species:

• Azure water hyacinth ( Eichhornia azurea ( Swartz ) Kunth )
• Water Hyacinth ( Eichhornia crassipes ( Martius ) Solms, Syn: Eichhornia speciosa Knuth, Pontederia crassipes Mart, Piaropus crassipes ( Martius ) Rafinesque. )
• Ungleichblättrige water hyacinth ( Eichhornia diversifolia ( Vahl ) Urban)
• Eichhornia martiana Seub.
• Eichhornia natans ( P.Beauv. ) Solms
• Brazilian water hyacinth ( Eichhornia paniculata ( Sprengel ) Solms- Laubach, Syn: Piaropus paniculatus ( Sprengel ) Small)

Pictures

Azure water hyacinth ( Eichhornia azurea ).

Water Hyacinth ( Eichhornia crassipes ).

Eichhornia natans in Burkina Faso.

Swell

• Charles N. Horn: Pontederiaceae in the Flora of North America, Volume 26, p 38: Magnoliophyta: Liliidae: Liliales and Orchidales, 2002: Eichhornia - Online. ( Description section )
• Description in the Western Australian flora. (English )