It is almost impossible for an individual to keep pace with the huge bulk of, not always readily accessible, literature on waterhyacinth which has amassed in recent years. This book provides for the first time a comprehensive bibliography of over 2700 references and a critical review of the current knowledge on all aspects of the plant. Important data on all these aspects have been compiled and presented in numerous tables and figures making the book the most important reference work to date on waterhyacinth. Areas requiring the extra attention of researchers are also indicated. In recent years aquatic weeds such as waterhyacinth have received great attention, not only for the magnitude of problems caused by them in the management of water resources, but also for the promise they hold as a new resource for such diverse uses as animal feed, compost, paper, energy (biogas) and above all the control of water pollution (wastewater treatment). Waterhyacinth outclasses all other aquatic weeds in its rate of growth, multiplication and dry matter production, and its potential ability in respect to energy and pollution control.