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Nymphaea odorata
Aiton
Fragrant Water Lily
Nymphaeaceae
Nymphaea odorata is an aquatic plant in the family Nymphaeaceae. It is very common throughout many parts of North and Central America.
Description
Nymphaea odorata is an aquatic plant that spreads via rhizomes. Rhizomes are creeping, branching, and cylindric in cross section. Leaves float on the surface of the water, ovate to nearly round in shape, typically 10 to 40 cm long and wide, with smooth margins. Leaves have about 6 to 27 main veins that radiate outwards from the center of the leaf, as well as two lobes at the base of the leaf. They are smooth in surface (i.e. hairless), green above, and sometimes purple below. Flowers float, and are open during the day. They are 6 to 19 cm in diameter. The four sepals and the outermost four petals are in a distinct whorl, but the other petals are not. Flowers typically have around 17 to 43 white, rarely pink petals, and sepals that are sometimes tinted red and sometimes with prominent veins. There are 35 to 120 yellow stamens and a pistil with 10 to 25 locules, or cavities within an ovary. Seeds are about 1.4 to 4.5 mm long and 0..9 to 3 mm long, ovoid (FNAEC 1997).
Subspecies tuberosa exists, originally treated as a different species. It was originally separated from ssp. odorata by having striped petiole, green leaf undersides, and seeds 2.8 to 4.5 mm long. However, the two subspecies are variable in some of those criteria, and can produce fertile hybrids between each other. A study found that ssp. tuberosa tends to have rounder leaves, striped petioles, and basal lobes that are more pointed. While they do often hybridize, the two groups seem to form monophyletic groups, and are probably subspecies, but not separate species (Woods et al. 2005a; Woods et al. 2005b).
Subspecies tuberosa exists, originally treated as a different species. It was originally separated from ssp. odorata by having striped petiole, green leaf undersides, and seeds 2.8 to 4.5 mm long. However, the two subspecies are variable in some of those criteria, and can produce fertile hybrids between each other. A study found that ssp. tuberosa tends to have rounder leaves, striped petioles, and basal lobes that are more pointed. While they do often hybridize, the two groups seem to form monophyletic groups, and are probably subspecies, but not separate species (Woods et al. 2005a; Woods et al. 2005b).
Uses
Note: Please see the disclaimer regarding any information about medical or edible uses.
Nymphaea odorata has some medicinal uses: infusions of the leaves or roots have been used to treat coughs, swellings, diarrhea, mouth sores, and tuberculosis; however, the roots are also considered to be poisonous (Quattrocchi 2016).
Nymphaea odorata is quite attractive and can be grown as an ornamental. It grows in full sun to part shade, and grows relatively quickly, and can spread by rhizomes (Gilman et al. 1999).
Nymphaea odorata is quite attractive and can be grown as an ornamental. It grows in full sun to part shade, and grows relatively quickly, and can spread by rhizomes (Gilman et al. 1999).
Distribution
Nymphaea odorata is typically found in ponds, lakes, and other areas with still or slow-moving water. Subspecies odorata is more common, and is found from southeastern Manitoba and northeastern Minnesota east to Newfoundland, south to Florida, and west to Texas, excluding a stretch from Iowa to western New York. It is also found in an isolated population in eastern Saskatchewan and Manitoba, various small isolated populations in the southwestern United States, and some populations in the Pacific Northwest. Outside of North America, it is found in Central America and the West Indies, and has naturalized in northern Guyana (FNAEC 1997).
Subspecies tuberosa is found in more alkaline ponds. It is native to Oklahoma, north to southeastern Manitoba, and east to Massachusetts (FNAEC 1997).
Subspecies tuberosa is found in more alkaline ponds. It is native to Oklahoma, north to southeastern Manitoba, and east to Massachusetts (FNAEC 1997).
Status
Nymphaea odorata is listed on the IUCN Red List as "Least Concern". Although it faces some decline, mostly from housing development, dams, and wetland draining, the species is probably not at risk because it can establish itself in non-native areas (Maiz-Tome 2016).
References
FNAEC (Flora of North America Editorial Committee), editor. 1997. Flora of North America, north of Mexico. Volume 3: Magnoliophyta: Magnoliidae and Hamamelidae. New York: Oxford University Press.
Gilman, E. F. 1999. Nymphaea odorata Fragrant Water Lily. Gainesville, FL: University of Florida IFAS Extension. [accessed 2019 Oct 4]. https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/FP434.
Maiz-Tome, L. 2016. Nymphaea odorata. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-1.RLTS.T64318950A67730237.en.
Quattrocchi, U. 2012. CRC World Dictionary of Medicinal and Poisonous Plants Common Names, Scientific Names, Eponyms, Synonyms, and Etymology. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press.
Woods, K., Hilu, K. W., Wiersema, J. H., and Borsch, T. 2005a. Pattern of Variation and Systematics of Nymphaea odorata: I. Evidence from Morphology and Inter-Simple Sequence Repeats (ISSRs). Systematic Botany, 30: 471–480.
Woods, K., Hilu, K. W., Borsch, T., Wiersema, J. H. 2005b. Pattern of Variation and Systematics of Nymphaea odorata: II. Sequence Information from ITS and trnL-trnF. Systematic Botany, 30: 481–493.
Gilman, E. F. 1999. Nymphaea odorata Fragrant Water Lily. Gainesville, FL: University of Florida IFAS Extension. [accessed 2019 Oct 4]. https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/FP434.
Maiz-Tome, L. 2016. Nymphaea odorata. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-1.RLTS.T64318950A67730237.en.
Quattrocchi, U. 2012. CRC World Dictionary of Medicinal and Poisonous Plants Common Names, Scientific Names, Eponyms, Synonyms, and Etymology. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press.
Woods, K., Hilu, K. W., Wiersema, J. H., and Borsch, T. 2005a. Pattern of Variation and Systematics of Nymphaea odorata: I. Evidence from Morphology and Inter-Simple Sequence Repeats (ISSRs). Systematic Botany, 30: 471–480.
Woods, K., Hilu, K. W., Borsch, T., Wiersema, J. H. 2005b. Pattern of Variation and Systematics of Nymphaea odorata: II. Sequence Information from ITS and trnL-trnF. Systematic Botany, 30: 481–493.
Description
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