European white water lily
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Order: Nymphaeales
Family: Nymphaeaceae
Genus: Nymphaea
Species:
N. alba
Binomial name
Nymphaea alba
Subspecies[2]
  • Nymphaea alba subsp. alba
  • Nymphaea alba subsp. occidentalis (Ostenf.) Hyl.
Synonyms

See here

Nymphaea alba, the white waterlily, European white water lily or white nenuphar /ˈnɛnjʊfɑːr/, is an aquatic flowering plant in the family Nymphaeaceae.[3][4][5] It is native to North Africa, temperate Asia, Europe and tropical Asia (Jammu and Kashmir).[6]

Description

It grows in water that is 30–150 cm (12–59 in) deep and likes large ponds and lakes.

The leaves can be up to 30 cm (12 in) in diameter and take up a spread of 150 cm (59 in) per plant.[5] The flowers are white and they have many small stamens inside.[7]

Cytology

The chromosome count is n = 42. The genome size is 1950 Mb.[8]

Taxonomy

It was first published and described by Carl Linnaeus in his book 'Species Plantarum', on page 510 in 1753.[6][9]

The red variety (Nymphaea alba f. rosea) is cultivated from lake Fagertärn ("Fair tarn") in the forest of Tiveden, Sweden, where it was discovered in the early 19th century. The discovery led to large-scale exploitation which nearly made it extinct in the wild before it was protected.[10]

Nymphaea candida J. Presl is sometimes considered a subspecies of N. alba (N. alba L. subsp. candida (J. Presl) Korsh.).[7]

Synonyms

Synonyms of Nymphaea alba L.[2]
Synonyms of Nymphaea alba subsp. alba[11]
Synonyms of Nymphaea alba subsp. occidentalis (Ostenf.) Hyl.[12]

Distribution and habitat

It is found all over Europe and in parts of North Africa and the Middle East in fresh water.[7] In Africa, it is found in Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia. In temperate Asia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Siberia, Iran, Iraq, Palestine and Turkey. It is found in tropical Asia, within the Indian provinces of Jammu and Kashmir. Lastly, within Europe, it is found in Belarus, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Russian Federation, Ukraine, Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Netherlands, Poland, Slovakia, Switzerland, Denmark, Finland, Ireland, Norway, Sweden, United Kingdom, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, Italy, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia, France, Portugal and Spain.[6]

Phytochemistry

It contains the active alkaloids nupharine and nymphaeine, and is a sedative and an aphrodisiac/anaphrodisiac depending on sources.[citation needed] Although roots and stalks are used in traditional herbal medicine along with the flower, the petals and other flower parts are the most potent. Alcohol can be used to extract the active alkaloids, and it also boosts the sedative effects. The root of the plant was used by monks and nuns for hundreds of years as an anaphrodisiac, being crushed and mixed with wine. In the earliest printed medical textbooks, authors maintained this use, though warning against consuming large and frequent doses.[13]

References

  1. ^ Akhani, H. (2014). "Nymphaea alba". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2014: e.T164237A63306122. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2014-2.RLTS.T164237A63306122.en. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  2. ^ a b "Nymphaea alba L." Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 11 January 2024.
  3. ^ "nenuphar". The Chambers Dictionary (9th ed.). Chambers. 2003. ISBN 0-550-10105-5.
  4. ^ "nenuphar". Lexico.
  5. ^ a b "White Water Lily (Nymphaea odorata)". www.dnr.state.mn.us. Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Retrieved 18 August 2015.
  6. ^ a b c "Taxon: Nymphaea alba L." Retrieved 23 October 2017.
  7. ^ a b c Anderberg, Anders (1996). "Vit näckros". www.linnaeus.nrm.se (in Swedish). Swedish Museum of Natural History. Retrieved 18 August 2015.
  8. ^ Chen, Fei; Liu, Xing; Yu, Cuiwei; Chen, Yuchu; Tang, Haibao; Zhang, Liangsheng (2017). "Water lilies as emerging models for Darwin's abominable mystery" (PDF). Horticulture Research. 4: 17051. doi:10.1038/hortres.2017.51. PMC 5626932. PMID 28979789.
  9. ^ "Nymphaeaceae Nymphaea alba L." .pni.org. Retrieved 23 October 2017.
  10. ^ Wallsten, Maud; Thorson, Jan; Werlemark, Gun (2005). "Härstammar Claude Monets röda näckrosor från Fagertärn i Närke?" [Are Claude Monet's red water lilies derived from Fagertärn in Närke?] (PDF). Svensk Botanisk Tidskrift (in Swedish) (99:3–4): 146–153. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 18 August 2015.
  11. ^ "Nymphaea alba subsp. alba". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 11 January 2024.
  12. ^ "Nymphaea alba subsp. occidentalis (Ostenf.) Hyl". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 11 January 2024.
  13. ^ Nielsen (1979). Giftplanter [Poisonous plants]. Gyldendals grønne håndbøger (in Norwegian). Cappelen. pp. 68–69. ISBN 8701318411.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Nymphaea alba.
Categories