Nymphaeaceae: Water Lily Family. Identify plants and flowers.

Thomas J. Elpel's
Web World Portal

Wildflowers & Weeds

Nymphaeaceae: Water Lily Family Plant Identification Characteristics.

Nymphaeaceae
Plants of the Water Lily Family

If you have ever seen a pond of lily pads then you have likely seen members of this family. These are perennial, aquatic plants with thick, horizontal rootstocks and large leaves that float on the surface of the water. They have solitary flowers on long stalks with 4 or 5 sepals, plus 5, 15, or more petals and numerous (40 to 80) stamens. The ovary is positioned superior or slightly inferior and consists of 5 to 25 united carpels, with the partitian walls present, forming an equal number of chambers. The ovary matures as a leathery, capsule-like "berry," or as a schizocarp, a fruit that breaks apart at the carpels. Worldwide there are 6 genera and about 70 species. The lotus (Nelumbo) resembles the water lily and was previously placed in this family, but is now considered a distant family of its own, Nelumbonaceae

Plants of the Water Lily family produce large, starchy roots. Some are edible, but some species have powerful and undefined medicinal qualities making them unpalatable as food. Otherwise, these plants are predominantly mucilaginous and astringent. Do not gather any plants for food or medicine from polluted waters. Most water plants cleanse pollutants out of the water and accumulate it in their tissues.

Key Words:
Aquatic plants with large, floating leaves and showy flowers.

Please e-mail Thomas J. Elpel to report mistakes or to inquire about purchasing high resolution photos of these plants.

Nuphar polysepala. Yellow Pond Lily.	Nuphar polysepala. Yellow Pond Lily.
Nymphaea odorata. Fragrant Water Lily.	Nymphaea odorata. Fragrant Water Lily. Seeley Lake, Montana.