<P> Water hyacinth is a free - floating perennial aquatic plant ( or hydrophyte ) native to tropical and sub-tropical South America . With broad , thick , glossy , ovate leaves , water hyacinth may rise above the surface of the water as much as 1 meter in height . The leaves are 10 -- 20 cm across , and float above the water surface . They have long , spongy and bulbous stalks . The feathery , freely hanging roots are purple - black . An erect stalk supports a single spike of 8 - 15 conspicuously attractive flowers , mostly lavender to pink in colour with six petals . When not in bloom , water hyacinth may be mistaken for frog 's - bit ( Limnobium spongia ) or Amazon frogbit ( Limnobium laevigatum ) . </P>
<P> Water hyacinth is a free - floating perennial aquatic plant ( or hydrophyte ) native to tropical and sub-tropical South America . With broad , thick , glossy , ovate leaves , water hyacinth may rise above the surface of the water as much as 1 meter in height . The leaves are 10 -- 20 cm across , and float above the water surface . They have long , spongy and bulbous stalks . The feathery , freely hanging roots are purple - black . An erect stalk supports a single spike of 8 - 15 conspicuously attractive flowers , mostly lavender to pink in colour with six petals . When not in bloom , water hyacinth may be mistaken for frog 's - bit ( Limnobium spongia ) or Amazon frogbit ( Limnobium laevigatum ) . </P>
in which part of the world is water hyacinth a native plant
in which part of the world is water hyacinth a native plant
tropical and sub-tropical South America
tropical and sub-tropical South America