Pontederia crassipes Mart.

Eceng gondok or water hyacinth (Pontederia crassipes) is a floating aquatic plant 40-80 cm tall of the Pontederiaceae family, originating from Brazil, discovered by German botanist Carl von Martius during an expedition to the Amazon River. Its dried leaf stalks are commonly woven into bags, sandals, and hats. Traditionally, an infusion of its leaf stalk is also believed to relieve fever, toothache, and help promote lactation.

Water hyacinth thrives in fresh water such as ponds, swamps, small rivers, and lakes. Grows well in humid areas at elevations of 200-1,200 m above sea level. Temperature 20-35 °C, rainfall 1,000-3,000 mm/year. Usually thrives in ponds with pH 6.7-7.3.

• Roots fibrous.
• Leaves single, oval, tapering tip and base, base of the stalk bulges. Smooth green surface.
• Flowers compound, spike-shaped, tube-shaped calyx.
• Seeds round, black in color.
• Fruit a 3-chambered capsule, green in color.

• Generative propagation, seeds that can tolerate submersion or drying for 15 years and still germinate.
• Vegetative propagation, new shoots grow from leaf axils then enlarge into new plants.

Cellulose, pentose, saponins, silica, 2,5-dimethoxy-4-phenyl-benzoindenone (1), ash, tridecanoic acid, hexadecanoic acid, methyl ester, phytol acetate and lignin.

An infusion of the bulged leaf stalk is used to treat fever, relieve toothache, treat ulcers, sore throat, relieve itchy skin, treat asthma, promote lactation, improve liver function, diarrhea remedy.

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Also known by the local name, Kelipuk (Palembang), Ringgak (Lampung), Ilung-ilung (Dayak).