Eichhornia crassipes, commonly known as water hyacinth, is one of the fastest growing plants known. Its primary means of reproduction is by way of runners, which eventually form daughter plants. It also produces large quantities of seeds that are viable for up to 30 years. In Bangladesh it is known as a Kachuripana.
We can see it everywhere in Bangladesh. Without any care it grows up in rivers, canals, long pools of water, large watery areas and tanks of Bangladesh. It's original home in South Africa's Brazil. Its round shaped leaves are green in color white its flowers are light violet, with patches of deep violet and a yellow spot at their center. On a long stem of 6 to 8 inches its flowers, made up of many petals, blossom.
They are very pretty to look at. They prosper largely during the rainy season. The flowers blossom more abundantly during the months of February and March. Kachuripana or water hyacinths are very useful as cattle fodder. Dried Kachuripana is used as fuel while rotted its used as manure for trees and plants.