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 Leaves Paul Rothrock @http://swbiodiversity.org, Usage Rights: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike (CC BY-SA) |  Plant University of Vermont, Pringle Herbarium @http://swbiodiversity.org, Usage Rights: CC BY-NC (Attribution-Non-Commercial) | | | | |
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Origin:
Native
Life Cycle:
Perennial Similar Species: Nymphaea tuberosa, N. tetragona
General Desc:
Forms colonies in shallow water. Oval leaves are green above with spreading veins, purplish below and float on the water surface or just below. Fragrant, showy, floating, star-like flowers have many white petals and a golden yellow center, close nightly.
Identification notes: Aquatic; rhizomes creeping; stolons absent; leaves large, oval, veins spread from central point, purplish below, green above; flowers close nightly, petals white, 17 to 43; sepals uniformly greenish, reddish, or yellowish on surface away from stem.
Height:
To nearly 10 inches wide
Habitat Description: Found in fresh-water, still or slow-moving ponds, lakes, streams and rivers particularly where dams have been constructed (whether by humans or beavers) in relatively shallow water (5 to 8 feet). It favors water that is somewhat acidic.
Plant Communities:
Riparian
Elevation: 1000 - 7000 feet
Color:
White
Shape:
Regular not in clusters
Tubular:
N
Flowering Period:
Apr - Oct
Description:
Each fragrant flower floats rising somewhat above the water, has about 17 to 43 white petals that curve upward, is 2-3/4 to almost 10 inches wide and has a dense center of many golden yellow stamens. 4 leaf-like sepals below the flower rest on the water.
Leaf Color:
Green above, purplish below
Leaf Type:
Simple
Leaf Shape:
Round or oval
Leaf Margin:
Smooth
Leaf Attachment:
Alternate
Leaves Clasp:
N
Hairs:
Stems
Spines:
N
Leaf Description:
Thick, hairy, branched stems grow underwater from submerged creeping rootstalks (rhizomes). Leathery, waxy, oval leaves with long stalks may grow up to 10 inches wide and are narrowly cut almost to the center on 1 side where the stalk is attached.
Fruit Color: Green
Fruit Type: Capsule
Fruit Notes: After the petals wither, a multicelled fruit develops that is fleshy or spongy and sphere-shaped with many seeds. It resembles a leathery berry about 3/4 to 1-1/2 inches wide. The stalk of the fruit bends downwards enabling the fruit to mature underwater.
Seed Notes: When ripe, the fruit releases seeds that float up to the water surface. Carried by water currents and wind, the seeds sink downward to the muddy bottom where they germinate. Each seed is smooth, shiny, egg-shaped, 1/16 inch long and dark olive green.
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