Nymphaea odorata

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Species of aquatic plant

title: "Nymphaea odorata" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["nymphaea", "flora-of-northern-america", "flora-of-southern-america", "freshwater-plants"] description: "Species of aquatic plant" topic_path: "general/nymphaea" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nymphaea_odorata" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary Species of aquatic plant ::

| image = 2024-08-20 14 33 27 Fully open American White Water Lily flower and leaves in a shallow cove of Success Lake within the Colliers Mills Wildlife Management Area in Jackson Township, Ocean County, New Jersey.jpg | status = LC | status_system = IUCN3.1 | status_ref = | status2 = | status2_system = TNC | status2_ref = | genus = Nymphaea | parent = Nymphaea sect. Nymphaea | display_parents = 3 | species = odorata | authority = Aiton | subdivision_ranks = Subspecies | subdivision_ref = | subdivision =

  • N. odorata subsp. odorata
  • N. odorata subsp. tuberosa (Paine) Wiersema & Hellq. | synonyms_ref = | synonyms = {{Collapsible list | {{Species list | Castalia odorata | (Aiton) Wood | Leuconymphaea odorata | (Aiton) MacMill.

Nymphaea odorata, also known as the American white waterlily, fragrant water-lily, beaver root, fragrant white water lily, white water lily, sweet-scented white water lily, and sweet-scented water lily, is an aquatic plant belonging to the genus Nymphaea. It can commonly be found in shallow lakes, ponds, and permanent slow moving waters throughout North America where it ranges from Central America to northern Canada. It is also reported from Brazil and Guyana.

Description

This plant is rooted from branched rhizomes that gives rise to long petioles that terminate in smooth floating leaves. Since the leaves are subject to tearing by water and waves, they are round with a waxy upper coating that is water-repellent. The flowers also float. They are radially symmetric with prominent yellow stamens and many white petals. The flowers open each day and close again each night and are very fragrant. Once the flowers are pollinated, the developing fruit is pulled back under water for maturation.

Cytology

The chromosome count is n = 28 or n = 56. The genome size is 1574.58 Mb.

Chemistry

The lignans nymphaeoside A and icariside E, and the flavonols kaempferol 3-O-alpha-l-rhamnopyranoside (afzelin), quercetin 3-O-alpha-l-rhamnopyranoside (quercitrin), myricetin 3-O-alpha-l-rhamnopyranoside (myricitrin), quercetin 3-O-(6'-O-acetyl)-beta-d-galactopyranoside, myricetin 3-O-beta-d-galactopyranoside and myricetin 3-O-(6'-O-acetyl)-beta-d-galactopyranoside can be found in N. odorata.

Taxonomy

Subspecies

It is divided into two subspecies:

  • Nymphaea odorata subsp. odorata
  • Nymphaea odorata subsp. tuberosa (Paine) Wiersema & Hellq.

Uses

The fragrant water-lily has both medical and edible parts. The seeds, flowers and rhizomes can all be eaten raw or cooked. The root can be boiled to produce a liquid which can be gargled to treat sore throats or drunk to treat diarrhea. The rhizomes were also used by Native Americans to treat coughs and colds. The stem can be placed directly on teeth to treat a toothache.

The muck-submerged stems are eaten by muskrats.

References

References

  1. Maiz-Tome, L.. (2016). "''Nymphaea odorata''".
  2. (4 April 2025). "''Nymphaea odorata''".
  3. "''Nymphaea odorata'' Aiton".
  4. {{PLANTS
  5. {{BSBI 2007
  6. "Lady Bird Johnson Nymphaea Odorata".
  7. Stevens, W. D., C. Ulloa Ulloa, A. Pool & O. M. Montiel. 2001. Flora de Nicaragua. Monographs in systematic botany from the Missouri Botanical Garden 85: i–xlii
  8. CONABIO. 2009. Catálogo taxonómico de especies de México. 1. In Capital Nat. México. CONABIO, Mexico City
  9. Scoggan, H. J. 1978. Dicotyledoneae (Saururaceae to Violaceae). 3: 547–1115. In Flora of Canada. National Museums of Canada, Ottawa.
  10. Godfrey, R. K. & J. W. Wooten. 1981. Aquatic and Wetland Plants of Southeastern United States Dicotyledons 1–944. Univ. Georgia Press, Athens
  11. Funk, V. A., P. E. Berry, S. Alexander, T. H. Hollowell & C. L. Kelloff. 2007. Checklist of the Plants of the Guiana Shield (Venezuela: Amazonas, Bolivar, Delta Amacuro; Guyana, Surinam, French Guiana). Contributions from the United States National Herbarium 55: 1–584
  12. Forzza, R. C. 2010. Lista de espécies Flora do Brasil http://floradobrasil.jbrj.gov.br/2010 {{Webarchive. link. (2015-09-06 . Jardim Botânico do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro)
  13. Sculthorpe, C.D. (1967). ''The Biology of Aquatic Vascular Plants.'' Reprinted 1985 Edward Arnold, by London.
  14. Keddy, P.A. (2010). ''Wetland Ecology: Principles and Conservation (2nd edition).'' Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK. 497 p.
  15. Chen, F., Liu, X., Yu, C., Chen, Y., Tang, H., & Zhang, L. (2017). [https://academic.oup.com/hr/article-pdf/doi/10.1038/hortres.2017.51/41958119/41438_2017_article_bfhortres201751.pdf "Water lilies as emerging models for Darwin's abominable mystery."] Horticulture research, 4.
  16. (2003). "Phenolic compounds from Nymphaea odorata". Journal of Natural Products.
  17. (2009). "The Complete Guide to Edible Wild Plants". [[Skyhorse Publishing]].
  18. Arnason, J. T., Hamersley Chambers, F., Karst, A., Kershaw, L., Mackinnon, A., Owen, P. 2009. Edible & medicinal plants of Canada. Edmonton, AB: Lone Pine Publishing
  19. (1985). "The Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Wildflowers, Eastern Region". Knopf.

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