Water Hyacinth Podcast from the Encyclopedia of Life (EOL) It may have pretty purple flowers, but Eichhornia crassipes can be a green menace. Introduced to Africa from the neotropics, this invasive weed is choking Lake Victoria, the worlds second largest lake. Water hyacinth has carpeted vast stretches of the lake, fouling fishing nets and blocking harbors. Ari Daniel Shapiro teams with reporter in the field, Gastive Oyani, to speak with local fishermen and botanist Helida Oyieke. They learn how the lake and the lives of the people who depend on it are responding to this weedy challenge.
Listen to the podcast on the Learning + Education section of the Encyclopedia of Life. (http://education.eol.org/podcast/water-hyacinth) ************************ About the Encyclopedia of Life The Encyclopedia of Life is a collaborative effort among scientists and the general public to bring information together about all 1.9 million named and known species, in a common format, freely available on the internet. Learn more at www.eol.org
