Family: Pontederiaceae Scientific name: Eichhornia crassipes Description: Plant Form Free-floating aquatic herb. Size Up to 1 m tall. Stem Horizontal stems which root at nodes. Also spongy, often inflated, buoyant leaf stalks. Leaves Flat, thick, oval to rounded-oblong shape with a tip that is abrupt or blunt, sometimes with a slight indent. Glossy green and up to 25 cm long. Flowers Showy, 3-7 cm across with 6 petals fused at base. Blue to purplish, with a yellow centre. Fruit and Seeds 3-chambered capsules up to 15 mm long containing up to 300 ribbed seeds. Habitat Rivers, swamps, lagoons, dams, reservoirs. Distinguishing Features Distinguished by showy blue to purplish flowers. Impacts Blocks and chokes waterways, reduces available water oxygen, destroys wetlands.