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Nymphaea odorata
  • Fragrant Water Lily

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

248px
Niche
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    The ecosystem niches for this plant are unknown. Do you know them? Click the edit button to add them!
Functions
  • None
    None
    There are no functions defined for this plant. Do you know of some? Click the edit button to add them!
Light
  • Full sun
    Full sun
    The amount of sun exposure that a plant prefers in ideal conditions.
    Key
  • no shade
    No shade
    The amount of shade a plant will tolerate without adverse health affects.
    Key
Water
  • Water Requirementsaquatic
    Aquatic
    The amount of water a plant needs for healthy growth, relative to other plants.
    Key
Soil
  • acid,neutral,alkaline
    Unknown
    The PH range (acidity or alkilinity) of the growth medium ideal for healthy nutrient absorbtion.
    Key
  • Sandy to Clay
    The soil texture this plant prefers for optimal growth.
    Key
Cold & Heat
  • 5
    Zone 5
    The USDA Hardiness scale assigns plants a number from 1 to 12 representing the minimum temperature a plant can survive.
    Key
    0< -53.9ºC< -65ºF
    1-51.1ºC-60ºF
    2-45.6ºC-50F
    3-40ºC-40ºF
    4-34.4ºC-30ºF
    5-28.9ºC-20ºF
    6-23.3ºC-10ºF
    7-17.8ºC0ºF
    8-12.2C10ºF
    9-6.7ºC20ºF
    10-1.1ºC30ºF
    114.4ºC40ºF
    12> 10ºC> 5ºF
  • ?
    Unknown
    The AHS Heat scale assigns plants a number from 1 to 12 representing the number of days per year a plant requires a temperature exceeding 30ºC (86ºF).
    Key
    11
    21 - 7
    38 - 14
    415 - 30
    531 - 45
    646 - 60
    761 - 90
    891 - 120
    9121 - 150
    10151 - 180
    11181 - 210
    12181 - 210
Nymphaea odorata has 0 edible uses listed
Nymphaea odorata has 0 medicinal uses listed

Uses

Edible uses

Notes

Flower buds - cooked as a vegetable or pickled[1][2][3][4].

Young flowers - raw[1]. Leaves - raw or cooked[5]. Used in soups and stews[1][3][4]. Root[2][4]. Boiled or roasted[5].

Ripe seed - cooked or ground into a meal[5].

Flowers

Unknown use

Leaves

Unknown use

Root

Unknown use

Seed

Unknown use

Material uses

There are no material uses listed for Nymphaea odorata.

Medicinal uses(Warning!)

The root is alterative, anodyne, antiseptic, astringent and demulcent[6][7][8][9]. A tea made from the roots is used in the treatment of TB, chronic bronchial complaints, diarrhoea, dysentery, gastrointestinal inflammation, gonorrhoea, vaginal discharge, inflamed glands, mouth sores and to stop bleeding[10][9].

A poultice made from the roots is used in the treatment of swellings, boils, tumours, inflamed skin, vaginitis etc[10][9]. The roots are harvested in the autumn once the plant has died down, and are dried for later use[9].

A complete cure of uterine cancer by a decoction and uterine injection has been recorded[6].

Unknown part

Anodyne
Antiseptic
Astringent
Cancer
Demulcent
TB

Ecology

Ecosystem niche/layer

Ecological Functions

Nothing listed.

Forage

Nothing listed.

Shelter

Nothing listed.

Propagation

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[11].

Division in May. Each portion must have at least one eye. Submerge in pots in shallow water until established[12].

Practical Plants is currently lacking information on propagation instructions of Nymphaea odorata. Help us fill in the blanks! Edit this page to add your knowledge.



Cultivation

A water plant requiring a rich soil and a sunny position in still or slowly flowing water that is at least 30cm deep[1][11][9]. An over-rich soil, or growing the plant in water that is too deep, inhibits flowering[9]. Prefers a pH between 6 and 7[11].

There are two basic types of plant in this genus (this species is a crawler):- 

         'crawlers' are species with horizontal roots that often spread freely, with new plants being formed at intervals along the root. These species are useful for naturalising, but they do not flower very freely in the cool summers of Britain[13].
         'clumpers' have vertical roots, they form slowly spreading clumps and produce offsets around the crown. These forms flower much more freely in Britain[13].
A very ornamental plant[14], the sweetly fragrant flowers are 12cm in diameter[10]. The flowers open in the morning, when they are at their most fragrant, and close in the afternoon[15].

Crops

Problems, pests & diseases

Associations & Interactions

There are no interactions listed for Nymphaea odorata. Do you know of an interaction that should be listed here? edit this page to add it.

Polycultures & Guilds

There are no polycultures listed which include Nymphaea odorata.

Descendants

Cultivars

Varieties

None listed.

Subspecies

None listed.

Full Data

This table shows all the data stored for this plant.

Taxonomy
Binomial name
Nymphaea odorata
Genus
Nymphaea
Family
Nymphaeaceae
Imported References
Edible uses
[1][2][3][4][5]
Medicinal uses
[6][7][8][9][10]
Material uses & Functions
Botanic
[16][11]
Propagation
Cultivation
Environment
Cultivation
Uses
Edible uses
None listed.
Material uses
None listed.
Medicinal uses
None listed.
Functions & Nature
Functions
Provides forage for
Provides shelter for
Environment
Hardiness Zone
5
Heat Zone
?
Water
aquatic
Sun
full sun
Shade
no shade
Soil PH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Soil Texture
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil Water Retention
Environmental Tolerances
    Ecosystems
    Native Climate Zones
    None listed.
    Adapted Climate Zones
    None listed.
    Native Geographical Range
    None listed.
    Native Environment
    None listed.
    Ecosystem Niche
    None listed.
    Root Zone Tendancy
    None listed.
    Life
    Deciduous or Evergreen
    ?
    Herbaceous or Woody
    ?
    Life Cycle
    perennial
    Growth Rate
    ?
    Mature Size
    x 1 meters
    Fertility
    self fertile
    Pollinators
    Flies, Self
    Flower Colour
    ?
    Flower Type
    hermaphrodite

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    "image:Nymphaea odorata (2).jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Nymphaea odorata (2).jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.


    "image:Nymphaea odorata (2).jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

    "image:Nymphaea odorata (2).jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

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    "image:Nymphaea odorata (2).jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.






    References

    1. ? 1.01.11.21.31.4 Harris. B. C. Eat the Weeds. Pivot Health (1973-00-00)
    2. ? 2.02.12.2 Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing (1976-00-00)
    3. ? 3.03.13.2 Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books ISBN 3874292169 (1984-00-00)
    4. ? 4.04.14.24.3 Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications ISBN 0-9628087-0-9 (1990-00-00)
    5. ? 5.05.15.25.3 Coffey. T. The History and Folklore of North American Wild Flowers. Facts on File. ISBN 0-8160-2624-6 (1993-00-00)
    6. ? 6.06.16.2 Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin ISBN 0-14-046-440-9 (1984-00-00)
    7. ? 7.07.1 Lust. J. The Herb Book. Bantam books ISBN 0-553-23827-2 (1983-00-00)
    8. ? 8.08.1 Mills. S. Y. The Dictionary of Modern Herbalism. ()
    9. ? 9.09.19.29.39.49.59.6 Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. ISBN 0-7513-020-31 (1995-00-00)
    10. ? 10.010.110.210.3 Foster. S. & Duke. J. A. A Field Guide to Medicinal Plants. Eastern and Central N. America. Houghton Mifflin Co. ISBN 0395467225 (1990-00-00)
    11. ? 11.011.111.211.3 Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press ISBN 0-333-47494-5 (1992-00-00)
    12. ? Muhlberg. H. Complete Guide to Water Plants. E. P. Publishing Ltd. ISBN 0-7158-0789-7 (1982-00-00)
    13. ? 13.013.1 Matthews. V. The New Plantsman. Volume 1, 1994. Royal Horticultural Society ISBN 1352-4186 (1994-00-00)
    14. ? F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press (1951-00-00)
    15. ? Genders. R. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale. London. ISBN 0-7090-5440-8 (1994-00-00)
    16. ? Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named PFAFimport-60

    Cite error: <ref> tag with name "PFAFimport-187" defined in <references> is not used in prior text.

    "image:Nymphaea odorata (2).jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

    Retrieved from "https://practicalplants.org/w/index.php?title=Nymphaea_odorata&oldid=78883"
    Facts about "Nymphaea odorata"RDF feed
    Article is incompleteYes +
    Article requires citationsNo +
    Article requires cleanupYes +
    Belongs to familyNymphaeaceae +
    Belongs to genusNymphaea +
    Has common nameFragrant Water Lily +
    Has drought toleranceIntolerant +
    Has edible partFlowers +, Leaves +, Root + and Seeds +
    Has edible useUnknown use +
    Has fertility typeSelf fertile +, Flies + and Self +
    Has flowers of typeHermaphrodite +
    Has hardiness zone5 +
    Has imageNymphaea odorata (2).jpg +
    Has lifecycle typePerennial +
    Has mature width1 +
    Has medicinal partUnknown part +
    Has medicinal useAnodyne +, Antiseptic +, Astringent +, Cancer +, Demulcent + and TB +
    Has primary imageNymphaea odorata (2).jpg +
    Has search namenymphaea odorata + and x +
    Has shade toleranceNo shade +
    Has soil ph preferenceAcid +, Neutral + and Alkaline +
    Has soil teclayture preferenceClay +
    Has soil teloamyture preferenceLoamy +
    Has soil tesandyture preferenceSandy +
    Has sun preferenceFull sun +
    Has taxonomy nameNymphaea odorata +
    Has water requirementsaquatic +
    Is taxonomy typeSpecies +
    Tolerates nutritionally poor soilNo +
    Uses mature size measurement unitMeters +