water hyacinth

The 'water hyacinth' is both admired for its beauty and notorious for its invasive nature, impacting ecosystems and waterways globally.

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Definition

B2Botany

(technical, academic)A floating aquatic plant with thick, glossy leaves and purple flowers, belonging to the genus Pontederia (syn. Eichhornia).

Example

  • The water hyacinth is often seen in tropical water gardens.

B2Environmental Science

(technical, academic)An invasive plant species that spreads rapidly in freshwater bodies, blocking waterways and disrupting native ecosystems.

Example

  • Efforts to control the spread of water hyacinth have become a priority in many affected regions.

C1Economics

(informal, technical)A plant harvested for various uses, including crafts, bioenergy, and wastewater treatment, due to its rapid growth and abundance.

Example

  • Communities have started using water hyacinth to produce biofuel and handicrafts.

Similar

Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "water hyacinth":

water lilywater hyssopwater cabbagewhite water lilywater willowyellow waterlilywater spinachwater plantwater yam