BigMs.Take
like the devil in disguise
WATER HYACINTHS
Story spread by my father is that this Amazonian aquaplant was brought to these parts from Africa by the British, with the express purpose of covering up roadside ditches. The flowers are spectacular but the plant turned out to be a menace. Its fast-growing, thick spread clogs up waterways and literally suffocates native plant life (like Water Lilies, Water chestnuts) along with small sweet water fish, shrimps, turtles, frogs etc. that control vectors of disease (mosquitos etc.), which conversely thrive among Water Hyacinths. All this is later followed by a putrid rotting! Till date all methods at eradication have been unsuccessful - and regular manual weeding is the only recourse to limit its growth.
In recent times, the pulp from the rot is used to make paper, decorative crafts and even furniture.
like the devil in disguise
WATER HYACINTHS
Story spread by my father is that this Amazonian aquaplant was brought to these parts from Africa by the British, with the express purpose of covering up roadside ditches. The flowers are spectacular but the plant turned out to be a menace. Its fast-growing, thick spread clogs up waterways and literally suffocates native plant life (like Water Lilies, Water chestnuts) along with small sweet water fish, shrimps, turtles, frogs etc. that control vectors of disease (mosquitos etc.), which conversely thrive among Water Hyacinths. All this is later followed by a putrid rotting! Till date all methods at eradication have been unsuccessful - and regular manual weeding is the only recourse to limit its growth.
In recent times, the pulp from the rot is used to make paper, decorative crafts and even furniture.