sentences:  There are various accounts as to how the water hyacinth was introduced to the United States.The claim that the water hyacinth was introduced to the U. S. in 1884 at the World's Fair in New Orleans, also known as the World Cotton Centennial, has been characterized as the "first authentic account", as well as "local legend".At some time, there also appeared versions of the "legend" asserting that the plants had been given away as a gift by a Japanese delegation at the fair.