Practical
Plants

Nuphar lutea

Yellow Water Lily

a perennial member of the Nuphar genus in the family Nymphaeaceae.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Genus
Nuphar
Life cycle
perennial
Spread
1.5 m
Fertility
Flies
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Flies

Uses

Toxicity

Toxicity warning. The historical record reports a hazard for this plant. Do not use it to decide which parts are safe to eat or use medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

There are a number of reports that the plant is edible but one report suggests that the plant is poisonous without giving further details[8].

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Root - cooked[9][15][17][4][5]. An edible starch can be extracted from the root[5]. A possible emergency food[17]. The root has a bitter flavour - this bitterness can be removed by leaching the root in water[K]. Leaves and leaf stalks - cooked[9][4][5]. Seed - cooked[3]. It can be ground into a powder and used in making bread and porridge, or for thickening soups etc[11]. The seed can also be parched, when it swells considerably but does not burst like popcorn[5]. It is then normally eaten dry[11]. A refreshing drink is made from the flowers[9][5].

Product or use
Drink
Plant part
Leaves
Plant part
Root
Plant part
Seed

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The roots are anaphrodisiac, anodyne, antiscrofulatic, astringent, cardiotonic, demulcent and sedative[14]. Caution should be exercised because large doses are potentially toxic[12]. A tea made from the roots is used in the treatment of 'sexual irritability', blood diseases, chills etc[14][12]. The root is poulticed and applied to swellings, inflammations, cuts etc[14][12]. The root contains steroids and is a folk remedy for infertility[12]. Alkaloids in the root are reportedly hypotensive, antispasmodic, cardiac, tonic and vasoconstrictor[12].

Product or use
Anaphrodisiac
Product or use
Anodyne
Product or use
Antiscrophulatic
Product or use
Antispasmodic
Product or use
Astringent
Product or use
Cardiotonic
Product or use
Demulcent
Product or use
Hypotensive
Product or use
Sedative
Product or use
Vasoconstrictor

Environment

Range
Europe, including Britain, to N. Asia.
Habitat
Deep, slow moving or still water to a depth of 3metres[8][2].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
aquatic
Hardiness
Zone 4+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - sow as soon as it is ripe in a greenhouse in pots submerged under 25mm of water. Prick out into individual pots as soon as the first true leaf appears and grow them on in water in a greenhouse for at least two years before planting them out in late spring. The seed is collected by wrapping the developing seed head in a muslin bag to avoid the seed being lost. Harvest it 10 days after it sinks below the soil surface or as soon as it reappears[10]. Division in May. Each portion must have at least one eye. Submerge in pots in shallow water until established[16].

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

A water plant requiring a rich soil and a sunny position[1][16]. Succeeds in light shade[10]. It is best grown in still water up to 250cm deep but it also tolerates slow moving water[10]. Prefers shallow water[1]. Plants are hardy to about -20°c[6]. The flowers have a sickly scent[7]. The flowers have a brandy-like scent[13]. This unique smell is due to a combination of acetic acid and ethyl alcohol to form ethylacetate[13].

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  2. Polunin. O. Flowers of Europe - A Field Guide. Oxford University Press 1969-00-00 ISBN 0192176218

    ↩

  3. Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing 1976-00-00

    ↩

  4. Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984-00-00 ISBN 3874292169

    ↩1↩2

  5. Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

  6. Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Perennials Volumes 1 and 2. Pan Books 1991-00-00 ISBN 0-330-30936-9

    ↩

  7. Brickell. C. The RHS Gardener's Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers Dorling Kindersley Publishers Ltd. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-86318-386-7

    ↩

  8. Stary. F. Poisonous Plants. Hamlyn 1983-00-00 ISBN 0-600-35666-3

    ↩1↩2

  9. Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications 1972-00-00 ISBN 0-486-20459-6

    ↩1↩2↩3

  10. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2↩3

  11. Coffey. T. The History and Folklore of North American Wild Flowers. Facts on File. 1993-00-00 ISBN 0-8160-2624-6

    ↩1↩2

  12. Foster. S. & Duke. J. A. A Field Guide to Medicinal Plants. Eastern and Central N. America. Houghton Mifflin Co. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0395467225

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

  13. Genders. R. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale. London. 1994-00-00 ISBN 0-7090-5440-8

    ↩1↩2

  14. Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9

    ↩1↩2↩3

  15. Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00

    ↩

  16. Muhlberg. H. Complete Guide to Water Plants. E. P. Publishing Ltd. 1982-00-00 ISBN 0-7158-0789-7

    ↩1↩2

  17. Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202

    ↩1↩2

Edit this page