Practical
Plants

Nuphar pumila

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

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Taxonomy and growth

Genus
Nuphar
Life cycle
perennial
Fertility
Flies
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Flies

Uses

Edible uses

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

Seed[4]. No more details have been seen for this plant, but since this plant is closely related to N. lutea it is quite possible that it can be used similarly. These uses are listed below. Root - cooked[6][10][12][4][5]. An edible starch can be extracted from the root[5]. A possible emergency food[12]. The root has a bitter flavour - this bitterness can be removed by leaching the root in water[K]. Leaves and leaf stalks - cooked[6][4][5]. Seed - cooked[2]. It can be ground into a powder and used in making bread and porridge, or for thickening soups etc[8]. The seed can also be parched, when it swells considerably but does not burst like popcorn[5]. It is then normally eaten dry[8]. A refreshing drink is made from the flowers[6][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 root is a constructive tonic that benefits the digestive organs and increases body strength[9].

Product or use
Digestive
Product or use
Tonic

Environment

Range
Northern and central Europe, including Britain, to northern Asia.
Habitat
Lakes, mainly in N. Scotland[3]. Predominantly in cool usually acid infertile ponds and lakes of moors and mountains[11].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
aquatic
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
very acid, 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[7]. Division in May. Each portion must have at least one eye. Submerge in pots in shallow water until established[11].

Cultivation

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

A water plant requiring a sunny position[1]. Succeeds in very poor acid waters in the wild[11]. It is best if grown in still water at least 30cm deep[11] but it also tolerates slow moving water[7]. Succeeds in light shade[7]. This species is closely related to N. lutea[7].

References

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

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

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  3. Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press 1962-00-00

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

    ↩1↩2↩3

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

    ↩1↩2↩3

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

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

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

    ↩1↩2

  9. Duke. J. A. and Ayensu. E. S. Medicinal Plants of China Reference Publications, Inc. 1985-00-00 ISBN 0-917256-20-4

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

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

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

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

    ↩1↩2

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