Water Hyacinth

27.03.2025

Water Hyacinth

Why in the news?   

A thick blanket of water hyacinth covers the Mula river near Holkar Bridge, raising alarms among residents about the river's deteriorating condition.

About Water Hyacinth:

• It is a free-floating, aquatic plant in the pickerelweed family.
• Scientific Name: Eichhornia crassipes
• It is native to tropical regions of South America and is now present on all continents except Antarctica.
• It is one of the world’s most serious water weeds because of its aggressive, fast-growing nature.
• It can form dense mats that reduce the water quality, change water flows, and increase sediment.
• It crowds out native aquatic plants and animals, altering ecosystems, destroying habitats, and blocking irrigation systems.
• It has thick, glossy green leaves and lavender to violet flowers with a yellow spot.
• It was introduced to India during the British colonial rule as an ornamental aquatic plant from South America.

Uses of the Water Hyacinth:

• The plant has been used as a biofertilizer in some organic agriculture practices.
• The plant produces beautiful purple flowers that have high aesthetic value.
• It is rich in fibrous stems that can be processed into a wide array of handbags, interior decorative material, table mats, baskets, and other products.
• It has been reported that this plant is a good phytoremediation species, suggesting it has the ability to trap and remove toxic metabolites and harmful heavy metals from water.

                               Source: The Times of India

Consider the following statements regarding Water Hyacinth:

1. It is a free-floating, aquatic plant native to Africa.

2. It can form dense mats that reduce water quality and alter ecosystems.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

A.1 only

B.2 only

C.Both 1 and 2

D.Neither 1 nor 2

Answer B