Seedlings of Eichhornia crassipes: a Possible Complication to Control Measures in the Sudan

Abstract

THE presence of Eichhornia crassipes Solms. on the White Nile and Bahr el Jebel was first noted in 1958¹, although it seems to have been present on the Bahr el Jebel between Bor and Adok as early as the end of 1956 (unpublished report of Ministry of Agriculture, Sudan). Since the plant reproduces at a prolific rate by vegetative means and can become widely distributed by river currents, winds and boats, its spread has been of an ‘explosive’ nature, producing many problems for navigation, fishing and irrigation in the Sudan. At present it is to be found on the White Nile and Bahr el Jebel from Jebel Aulia dam, 47 km south of Khartoum, to about Juba in the Southern Sudan and on the Bahr el Zerraf, Sobat, and Pibor Rivers and part of the Bahr el Ghazal.