What is the difference between water lettuce and water hyacinth? A quick guide to telling them apart

1. Leaf differences

Water lettuce leaves grow in clusters on the main stem, forming a rosette; the leaf blades are obovate-cuneate, about 2 to 8 cm long, with rounded blunt tips and slightly wavy edges, and both sides of the leaves are covered with fine white hairs.

Water hyacinth leaves are basal and rosette-forming; the leaves are broadly ovate or rhombic, 2.5 to 12 cm long and wide, with rounded blunt tips, a shallowly cordate, rounded, truncate or broadly cuneate base, entire margins, no hairs, and a glossy surface.

2. Flower differences

The water lettuce inflorescence grows in the leaf axils; the spathe is about 1.2 cm long, white in color, and covered with downy hairs on the back.

Water hyacinth flowers are mostly in spike inflorescences, 3 to 4 cm in diameter, with 6 perianth lobes that are ovate, obovate or oblong, and lilac in color.