Pontederia crassipes

High school (ages 12+)
Animals & Nature

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/pontederia-crassipes

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the scientific name?Pontederia crassipes
2. Why does water hyacinth grow so fast?Its stems are full of air, making them light and able to float. This lets the plant spread quickly and produce many seeds.
3. How does water hyacinth affect fish and plants?When it covers the water, it blocks light so other plants can’t grow. When the plant dies, it uses up oxygen, which can hurt fish and other animals.

Herbaceous perennial: A plant that lives for several years and has non-woody stems that die back annually.
Phytoremediation: The use of plants to remove, transfer, stabilize, or destroy contaminants in soil or water.
Hypoxic conditions: Environments with significantly lower than normal levels of dissolved oxygen, harmful to aquatic life.
Biomass: The total mass of organisms in a given area or volume, often referring to plant material used for energy or other products.