Introduction Pontederia crassipes is widely recognized as one of the world’s most problematic invasive species. Although its spread and the impact it has on aquatic ecosystems have been the subject of numerous studies, there are still many unanswered questions regarding its invasive behavior outside its native range. This review addresses two key questions: (1) What is the current, science-based understanding of the invasiveness of P. crassipes as documented in peer-reviewed literature? (2) Which functional traits best explain its success as an invasive species beyond its native environment?. Methods We conducted a systematic review and bibliometric analysis of 3,845 peer-reviewed publications up to December 2024. Results Studies in the native range primarily focus on ecological characteristics, while those in invaded areas emphasize phytoremediation, with biotechnology emerging as an expanding area of interest. This is the first study to combine bibliometric and environmental field data to explore the functional traits of P. crassipes on a global scale. Despite its acknowledged invasiveness, only 3.2% of publications addressed the functional traits and environmental variables found to be relevant during this review, in comparable manner. This has limited our understanding of the ecological niche of water hyacinth across its range. Discussion Our findings highlight persistent knowledge gaps and the urgent need for standardized reporting of Essential Biodiversity Variables across the species’ global distribution. By combining systematic and bibliometric review, this study provides a comprehensive overview of research trends, identifies critical gaps, and guides hypothesis development for future studies. Standardized data collection and global cooperation are essential to develop evidence-based strategies, improve nature-based solutions, and promote sustainable management of P. crassipes worldwide.
Brito et al. (Wed,) studied this question.