The water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) in Ethiopia
1993
Aweke, G. (National Herbarium, Addis-Abeba (Ethiopia))
The water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes), an aquatic plant of the family Pontederiaceae, is native to the tropical South America but, through introduction by man, has spread in the whole tropical zone. In Ethiopia, the species is now present in the lowlands of Ilubabor (Baro, Gillo and Pibor rivers), in the lake Tana area (marshy tracts of the Blue Nile or Abbay river near its outlet with Lake Tana), and in the Rift Valley (Awash river, Koka dam, lake Ziway and lake Ellen). The most probable entry seems to be upper the Nile swamps. The species is very troublesome and its control should integrate physical, chemical and biological control techniques. The weevil Neochetina eichhorniae which has been used successfully in Sudan, could be used in Ethiopia as an agent of biological control, possibly in combination with the fungus Cercospora rodmanii.
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