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M. R. Zoolfakar and I. I. Chacha
plays so many roles to the society surrounding it including: (1) supporting livelihood
of people living within its shores, domestic use such as drinking, cooking, washing
clothes, irrigation purposes, marine transportation, in industries, and for sports, (2)
It is the main source of river Nile, which is the lifeline of Egypt, (3) it is the habitat
of tilapia, Nile perch and other 200 more species of fish, (4) its wetlands provide
shelter to various bird species, insects, and thus preserves biodiversity, (5) helps fight
poverty by creating employment in fish industry and transportation for people living
its environs, and (6) acts as eco-tourism center [3].
18.2 Literature Review
18.2.1 What Is Water Hyacinth
Water hyacinth is a free-floating plant, which grows up to 3 feet in height. It has thick,
waxy, rounded, glossy leaves, which rise well above the water surface on stalks. The
leaves are broadly ovate to circular, 4–8 inches in diameter, with gently incurved
sides, often undulate. Leaf veins are dense, numerous, fine, and longitudinal [4].
18.2.2 History of Water Hyacinth
Reference [4] elaborates that the water hyacinth is native to the northern neotropics of
South America and later distributed to North America, South America, East Africa,
and Asia. “The Water hyacinth was introduced from its native home in South America
to various countries by well-meaning people as an ornamental plant; to the US in
the 1880’s. It was introduced in Egypt in about 1879. It spread to the Congo, the
Nile and lake Victoria in the 1950’s. It became introduced to Asia in 1888, and to
Australia around 1890.”
18.2.3 Description of Water Hyacinth
• Floating waterweed up to 65 cm tall.
• Root system is extensive (up to 1 m) feathery, black to purple.
• Leaves are round, bright to dark green, up to 5–10 cm in diameter.
• Leaf stalks of young plants are swollen into spongy, bulbous structures; mature
plants have elongated leaf stalks.
• Flowers are light purple with darker blue/purple and yellow center, 4–6 cm long,
3.5–5 cm wide.
• Flowers are in dense spikes above plant.
M. R. Zoolfakar and I. I. Chacha
plays so many roles to the society surrounding it including: (1) supporting livelihood
of people living within its shores, domestic use such as drinking, cooking, washing
clothes, irrigation purposes, marine transportation, in industries, and for sports, (2)
It is the main source of river Nile, which is the lifeline of Egypt, (3) it is the habitat
of tilapia, Nile perch and other 200 more species of fish, (4) its wetlands provide
shelter to various bird species, insects, and thus preserves biodiversity, (5) helps fight
poverty by creating employment in fish industry and transportation for people living
its environs, and (6) acts as eco-tourism center [3].
18.2 Literature Review
18.2.1 What Is Water Hyacinth
Water hyacinth is a free-floating plant, which grows up to 3 feet in height. It has thick,
waxy, rounded, glossy leaves, which rise well above the water surface on stalks. The
leaves are broadly ovate to circular, 4–8 inches in diameter, with gently incurved
sides, often undulate. Leaf veins are dense, numerous, fine, and longitudinal [4].
18.2.2 History of Water Hyacinth
Reference [4] elaborates that the water hyacinth is native to the northern neotropics of
South America and later distributed to North America, South America, East Africa,
and Asia. “The Water hyacinth was introduced from its native home in South America
to various countries by well-meaning people as an ornamental plant; to the US in
the 1880’s. It was introduced in Egypt in about 1879. It spread to the Congo, the
Nile and lake Victoria in the 1950’s. It became introduced to Asia in 1888, and to
Australia around 1890.”
18.2.3 Description of Water Hyacinth
• Floating waterweed up to 65 cm tall.
• Root system is extensive (up to 1 m) feathery, black to purple.
• Leaves are round, bright to dark green, up to 5–10 cm in diameter.
• Leaf stalks of young plants are swollen into spongy, bulbous structures; mature
plants have elongated leaf stalks.
• Flowers are light purple with darker blue/purple and yellow center, 4–6 cm long,
3.5–5 cm wide.
• Flowers are in dense spikes above plant.