Maybe we often see a pond or lake overgrown with wild plants on its surface, which if left over time will cover the surface of the pond by the plant "Eceng Gondok"

Water hyacinth or water hyacinth is one of the floating aquatic plants. Anatomy, Height of about 0.4 - 0.8 meters. It does not have a trunk. The leaves are single and oval. Edge and tapered base, the base of the petiole balloon. The leaves surface is slick and green. The flowers include compound interest, grain shape, tubular petals. The seeds are round and black. The fruit box is three bears and is green. The root is a fiber root. Physiologically water hyacinth can play an indirect role in overcoming pollutant waters because it can survive by forming clumps. The roots thrive and are thick and black with a purple surface. The oxygen of photosynthesis in leaves and petiole is transferred to the broad surface of the roots and the surrounding water. This makes the rhizosphere provides a micro-environment with conditions conducive to nitric bacteria. Therefore, the activity of decomposition by this type of bacteria that changes ammonia to nitrate more increased.

• Ecology

Hyacinth grows in shallow ponds, wetlands and swamps, slow waterways, lakes, water reservoirs and rivers. This plant can adapt to the extreme changes in water levels, water currents, and changes in the availability of nutrients, pH, temperature and toxins in water. Rapid hyacinth growth is primarily caused by water containing high nutrients, especially those rich in nitrogen, phosphate and potassium. The salt content can inhibit the growth of water hyacinth as occurs in lakes in the coastal area of West Africa, where water hyacinth will increase throughout the wet season and decrease as salt content rises in the dry season.

• Pemanfaatan.

Eceng gondok dapat dimanfaatkan sebagai bahan baku kertas karena mengandung serat/selulosa. Pulp eceng gondok yang dihasilkan berwarna coklat namun dapat diputihkan dengan proses pemutihan (bleaching). Pulp juga dapat menyerap zat pewarna yang diberikan dengan cukup baik, sehingga berbagai variasi warna kertas dapat dihasilkan melalui proses ini. Di balik dampak negatifnya yang merusak wilayah perairan, eceng gondok merupakan bahan yang sangat potensial untuk digunakan sebagai pupuk organik dan sebagai bahan produksi bioetanol.

• Benefits of Hyacinth for health

1. Water Hyacinth contains proteins, carbohydrates, iron, calcium, calories, and phosphorus.
2. Water Hyacinth contains vitamins A, B1, and C
3. Able to cure urinary discharge due to blockage
   Treating throat throat disorders
4. Treat the effects of itchy skin from caterpillars or similar animals
5. Overcoming ulcer pain