Water hyacinth
Eichhornia crassipes, Pontederia crassipes
leaf · flower
Young leaves, stalks and flowers cooked as a vegetable, stir-fried or as fritters, in Java and Thailand.
- Origin
- Amazonia; naturalized in all warm waters
- Where to find it
- In Europe, it used to be sold in garden centers for ponds; its sale has been banned in the European Union since 2016.
- Season (United States)
- all year round
- Preparation
- Only if it grows in clean water: it concentrates heavy metals from polluted water. Always cooked: raw, it makes the throat itch.
- Did you know?
- It doubles its area in two weeks and chokes the lakes of Africa and Asia: eating it is one way of getting rid of it.