e-Flora of Thailand
Volume 9 > Part 1 > Year 2005 > Page 51 > Pontederiaceae > Eichhornia
Eichhornia crassipes (Mart.) Solmswfo-0000401771
in A.DC., Monogr. Phaner. 4: 527. 1883; Cherfils in Lecomte, Fl. Indo-Chine 6: 826. 1934; Backer in Steenis, Fl. Males. 1. 4: 259. 1951; Backer & Bakh.f., Fl. Java 3: 97. 1968. Mart., Nov. Gen. Sp. Pl. 1: 9, t. 4. 1823. Fig. 1; Plate VI: A.
Accepted Name : Pontederia crassipes Mart.
Nov. Gen. Sp. Pl. 1: 9, t. 4. 1823.
Description : Plants stoloniferous; floating or rooted in mud. Leaves radical, rosulate, emerged, broadly ovate or rhomboid, 7–25 cm long, lower leaves with reduced lamina and enlarged leaf-sheaths; apex obtuse base cordate, truncate or rounded. Petioles spongy, 10–50 cm long, inflated towards the base. Inflorescences spicate, 15–30 cm long, enclosed by irregular bracts, lower bract with large leaf-sheath and a small blade, upper bract entirely enclosed by the sheath of the lower. Perianth tube 1.5–1.75 cm long, slightly curved, lobes violet, ovate to oblong, 3–3.3 cm long, upper lobe larger with a patch of blue, yellow spot in centre. Stamens 6, filaments curved, glandular hairy. Ovary 5–7 mm; style glabrous; stigma hairy. Fruit a capsule.
Thailand : All over the country.
Distribution : Native to Brazil (type), introduced and naturalised all over the tropics. Introduced into Thailand from Java in 1896.
Ecology : In rivers, ponds and on swampy ground at low altitudes.
Vernacular : Phak top chawa (ผักตบชวา), phak top pong (ผักตบโป่ง), sawa (สวะ)(Central); phak bong (ผักบ่ง)(Nakhon Ratchasima); phak pong (ผักป่อง)(Suphan Buri).
Uses: The plant is used for animal food, green manure and for growing mushrooms. The stems are used for basket-work.