water hyacinth

American  

noun

1. a floating aquatic plant, Eichornia crassipes, of tropical lakes and rivers, that grows so prolifically it often hinders the passage of boats.

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water hyacinth British  

noun

1. a floating aquatic plant, Eichhornia crassipes, of tropical America, having showy bluish-purple flowers and swollen leafstalks: family Pontederiaceae. It forms dense masses in rivers, ponds, etc, and is a serious problem in the southern US, Australia, and parts of Africa

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Etymology

Origin of water hyacinth

An Americanism dating back to 1895–1900

Example Sentences

The estuary already has a long list of non-native species, including bass, water hyacinth, Asian clams and overbite clams.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 6, 2024

Now, the visitors are greeted to the sight of boats stuck in a sea of invasive green water hyacinth weed.

From Reuters • Mar. 1, 2023

She added Crate & Barrel’s whitewashed water hyacinth place mat.

From Washington Post • Dec. 14, 2022

"Hippos probably would not have put a dent in the water hyacinth problem," Massimi told Salon.

From Salon • Sep. 4, 2022

Cobras love to swim, and I’d seen them often enough arrowing through water hyacinth, their wide flat heads spading up out of the water.

From "Endangered" by Eliot Schrefer