Anchored water hyacinth
Alert
Have you seen Anchored water hyacinth?
Be on the lookout for Anchored water hyacinth and report it to Biosecurity Queensland. Early detection and reporting are the key elements in preventing Anchored water hyacinth from becoming a major problem in Queensland.
You must take reasonable action to minimise the risk of spreading Anchored water hyacinth to ensure the situation isn't worsened.
You must report all sightings to Biosecurity Queensland within 24 hours.
Call us on 13 25 23.
Native to tropical America, anchored water hyacinth is an aquatic invasive plant. It is closely related to one of the world's worst aquatic weeds, water hyacinth. Anchored water hyacinth smothers the surface of creeks, lakes and other water bodies. It is not known to occur in Australia.
Scientific name
Similar species
Description
- Looks similar to water hyacinth.
- Leaves are glossy, round, generally broad-ovate, 5–16cm long, 2–16cm wide.
- Stems are smooth and branched. Flowering stems are 8–12cm above water.
- Flowers are attractive, funnel-shaped, purple, with 6 toothed petals 1–3cm long.
- Seeds are 1–2mm long.
Habitat
- Can survive either free-floating on the water surface or rooted into the mud.
Distribution
- Currently not known to occur in Queensland.
Life cycle
- Flowers in summer and autumn.
- Seeds germinate in spring.
Impacts
Environmental
- Smothers surface of creeks, lakes and other water bodies.
Economic
- Interferes with pumping and irrigation equipment, and structures such as bridges and dams.
How it is spread
- Broken fragments and seeds can spread by water, vehicles and birds.
Prevention
Control
- Before undertaking any preventative or control actions, contact our Customer Service Centre.
Legal requirements
- Anchored water hyacinth is a prohibited invasive plant under the Biosecurity Act 2014.
- You must not keep, move, give away, sell or release into the environment. Penalties may apply. You must not take any action reasonably likely to exacerbate the biosecurity threat posed by anchored water hyacinth.
- You must take any action that is reasonably likely to minimise the biosecurity threat posed by anchored water hyacinth.
- You must report all sightings to Biosecurity Queensland within 24 hours.
Further information
- Contact the Customer Service Centre
- Last reviewed: 23 Sep 2021
- Last updated: 27 Sep 2021