In the late 1880s or early 1890s, an aquatic plant known as water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) was introduced to Florida. What seemed to be a pleasant plant for water gardens quickly turned into a menace that overwhelmed the St. Johns River. In this mini-series, we will explore the history of how water hyacinth entered Florida and the strides that have been taken to manage this plant's growth.
This episode features narrated excerpts from George E. Buker's Engineers vs. Florida's Green Menace. This article is available through The Florida Historical Quarterly.
George E. Buker’s Engineers vs. Florida’s Green MenaceBuker, George E. (1981) "Engineers vs Florida's Green Menace," Florida Historical Quarterly: Vol. 60 : No. 4 , Article 3.
Atavist Article by Jon Mooallem
More Information About Water Hyacinth
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Working In The Weeds is a podcast by the University of Florida/IFAS Center for Aquatics and Invasive Plants. This series connects scientists with stakeholders to clarify and discuss issues surrounding aquatic and invasive plants, while also highlighting the research being conducted at the Center.
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