Water Hyacinth
Despite it’s beauty, this purple flower of the water is in fact a weed that causes a good deal of environmental strife. The fast growth of the plant has caused much concern in many parts of the world by clogging up waterways impacting water
flow, blocking sunlight from reaching native aquatic plants, and starving the water of oxygen, often killing fish. Water hyacinth remains a major problem where effective control programs are not in place.
In an attempt to control the plant it has been put to use in number of ways including the production of baskets, ropes and paper. The fibrous root of the plant is dried and woven into bowls, baskets, drawers, decorative balls, trunks and urns for Freedom. The water hyacinth is found in the Buco, Congo, Rata, and Rangoon ranges.