Eichhornia crassipes

Herb, 30–65 cm high; roots plumose. Leaves with petiole spongy, short and abruptly swollen in young plants, more tapered and slender in adult plants (up to 50 cm long); lamina broadly ovate to orbicular, or transversely elliptic, (4–)7–15(–25) cm long (length to width ratio 0.5–1.2); base cordate, truncate or rounded; apex obtuse to flattened. Inflorescence up to 50 cm long (including non-flowering part), (3–)8–20(–35)-flowered. Flowers showy, 3.7–5 cm long, open flower 4–6 cm across; tube c. 1.5–2 cm long, slightly curved, greenish; lobes lilac, veins often darker; adaxial lobe with a yellow, blue-bordered central blotch. Stamens irregularly inserted at base of lobes, 3 greatly exserted, 3 shorter and just exserted. Seeds formed only if infructescence bends downwards and becomes submerged. Flowers Jan.-Mar.