Water hyacinth does both sexual and asexual reproduction and the modes are equally important to the species’ success as a destructive aquatic intruder. In calm climates, the weeds can flower throughout the year, and from early spring to late fall in other places. Growth rates are explosive and vegetative population doubling can take place in 1-3 weeks (Wolverton and McDonald 1978). They are capable of yielding an abundance of seeds making water hyacinths have a growth rate of 17.5 metric tonnes per hectare per day. An investigation by Barrett (1988) confirmed that tropical E.crassipes populations produced twice as many seeds as moderate populations and ascribed the difference to higher rates of pollinating insect visitation in the tropics. Seed germination has a propensity to take place when water levels are low and the seedlings can grow in drenched soils. Vegetative reproduction occurs via the breaking off of rosettes of clonal individuals. The stolons (horizontal shoots capable of forming new shoots and adventitious roots from nodes) are easily broken down by wave or wind action and floating clonal plants and mats are readily transported by water or wind movement (Barrett 1988).