anchored waterhyacinth USDA PLANTS Symbol: EIAZ2
U.S. Nativity: Exotic
Habit: Aquatic Plants
Eichhornia azurea (Swartz) Kunth
Jump to: Resources | Images | Distribution Maps | Sources
Taxonomic Rank: Liliopsida: Liliales: Pontederiaceae
Synonym(s): rooted water hyacinth
Appearance
Eichhornia azurea is a rooted perennial aquatic plant. It has long stems which grow to reach the surface of the water. It is native to parts of Central and South America.
Foliage
Leaves are alternate along the stem. Submersed leaves are sessile while emersed leaves are petiolate. The petiole is never inflated as with Eichhornia crassipes.
Flowers
Flowers are held on erect stems above the surface of the water. There can be from 7 to as many as 50 flowers per stem. Each flower blooms for only a day. Flowering can occur from summer through fall.
Fruit
Each flower can produce 10 to 13 small winged seeds.
Ecological Threat
Eichhornia azurea grows rapidly and can very quickly form expansive mats of floating plants, completely covering even large lakes. This complete coverage of the surface of the water blocks sunlight and depletes the oxygen available to the rest of the aquatic community. It can make the body of water uninhabitable by other aquatic organisms. Eichhornia azurea is listed as a noxious weed in the United States. It has only been reported in Florida.
Identification, Biology, Control and Management Resources
Selected Images from Invasive.orgView All Images at Invasive.org


Plant(s);
California Department of Food and Agriculture , CDFA, Bugwood.org
Additional Resolutions & Image Usage
Flower(s);
Kurt Stueber, Max-Planck-Institute for Plant Breeding Research, Cologne, Bugwood.org
Additional Resolutions & Image Usage
Plant(s);
Kurt Stueber, Max-Planck-Institute for Plant Breeding Research, Cologne, Bugwood.org
Additional Resolutions & Image Usage
Seed(s); Chalazal end of seed. FNW taxon.
Julia Scher, USDA APHIS PPQ, Bugwood.org
Additional Resolutions & Image Usage

Seed(s); Hilar end of seed. FNW taxon.
Julia Scher, USDA APHIS PPQ, Bugwood.org
Additional Resolutions & Image Usage
Seed(s); Close-up of the surface of a seed. FNW taxon.
Julia Scher, USDA APHIS PPQ, Bugwood.org
Additional Resolutions & Image Usage
Seed(s); Seeds, two with funiculus still attached. FNW taxon.
Julia Scher, USDA APHIS PPQ, Bugwood.org
Additional Resolutions & Image Usage
Seed(s); Three seeds, two with funiculus still attached. FNW taxon.
Julia Scher, USDA APHIS PPQ, Bugwood.org
Additional Resolutions & Image Usage
EDDMapS Distribution:
This map is incomplete and is based only on current site and county level reports made by experts and records obtained from USDA Plants Database. For more information, visit www.eddmaps.org 		 


State List
This map identifies those states that list this species on their invasive species list or law.


This species does not appear on any state or national invasive species lists.

Please contact us if a state or federal list needs to be updated.

Invasive Listing Sources: