Nymphaea- Water Lily

Author: Roxanne Armstrong

Email: roxanne@arches.uga.edu

courtesy of University of Georgia Herbarium

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Higher Taxon:

Family: Nymphaeaceae

Genus: Nymphaea

Description:

The Nymphaeas are herbaceous aquatic plants that normally inhabit still, fresh water ponds and lakes withstanding a wide range of depths. Their leaves are either submerged or floating and sometimes both. Most prefer water that is neutral or slightly alkaline. Most waterlilies have no stems and instead rise from the water on rhizomes.

The blossoms of Nymphaeas vary in shape, size, and color and grow on long peduncles. There are rounded blooms, star-shaped blooms and plate-like blooms just to name a few. Though the color of the vary, the structure remains the same for most species.

Swindells describes the leaves of Nymphaeas has varying in diameters from as little as 1.5 inches to 2 ft. or more. Orbicular and peltate leaves are most common but the shape of foliage varies from one species to another. Most species have a cleft in their leaves almost to the center where the petiole is attached. The top of the floating leaves is green, glossy, and water repellent which contrasts the purplish and continuously wet underside. Veins mostly radiate from the petiole and the petals and stamens are attached on the sides of the ovary (Swindells, 1983).

Species List:

A Species List displays the scientific names and some common names for Nymphaea. You may link directly to specific pages for the two species, N. odorata and N. rubra

 

General Information:

Waterlilies bear the generic name of Nymphaea, which , according to Greek legend, is derived from nymphaia, a flower that arose from a nymph who had died of jealousy. In the first century A.D. the Roman historian and naturalist, Pliny, associates waterlilies with a nymph who had died from unrequited love for Hercules. (Stapeley Water Gardens, 1989)

The genus Nymphaea was founded by J. E. Smith in 1809. (Conard, 1905)

"The waterlily family, Nymphaeaceae, is very old and primitive and embraces nine genera: Nymphaea, Nuphar, Nelumbo, Brasenia, Cabomba, Victoria, Barclaya, Ondinea, and Euryale. All members of the family have long fossil history, rhizomes, fruits, seeds, leaves, and pollen grains having been discovered in ancient rock formations."

 (Swindells, 1983)

There are many medicinal uses of waterlilies using the roots and leaves. The root is an astringent, demulcent, anodyne, and antiscrofulous. It is used in treating dysentery, diarrhoea, gonorrhoea, and leucorrhoea externally. The leaves and roots have been used in form of poultice to boils, tumors, scrofulous ulcers, and inflamed skin. It can also be used as a gargle for the mouth and throat. (Stapeley Water Gardens, 1989)

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