Problem Weed

No other plant is capable of such rapid growth.

	The plant reproduces by means of vegetative reproduction and by seeds.
	Every piece of water hyacinth that breaks off is capable of developing into a new plant. The parent plant develops side shoots and these break off and develop into new plants. The plant also produces masses of seed and this seed can lie dormant for up to fifteen years.
	In ideal conditions the number of plants doubles every 6 to 15 days and in one season 25 plants can give rise to a whopping 2 million plants.
	The water hyacinth can within a few short months be totally out of control and the growth can cover large dams and rivers.

	Wastage of water resources - it uses up water and it also loses a lot of water because of transpiration from the leaves.
	Rivers become clogged and in the rainy season floods occur because the water cannot drain from the area.
	People can no longer use the rivers to transport goods.
	They can no longer fish because the water hyacinth has covered the water.This can be devastating especially if fish is a staple food source people suffer malnutrition.
	Fish and other river creatures die because of a lack of oxygen caused by the water hyacinth.
	No more recreational boating or skiing on the dams or rivers.
	Tourists no longer visit the area.
	The local economy is affected.
	Mosquitos breed in amongst the water hyacinth and this adds to the spread of diseases like Malaria, Schistosomiasis, Cholera and Pilariasis.
	Hungry animals like cows drown trying to reach the water hyacinth - this is a great loss to the farmer.
	The quality of the water is affected.