Nymphaea alba
| European white water lily | |
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Scientific classification 
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Order: | Nymphaeales |
| Family: | Nymphaeaceae |
| Genus: | Nymphaea |
| Species: | N. alba
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| Binomial name | |
| Nymphaea alba | |
| Subspecies[2] | |
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| Synonyms | |
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Species[2]
subsp. alba[3]
subsp. occidentalis[4]
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Nymphaea alba, the white waterlily, European white water lily or white nenuphar /ˈnɛnjʊfɑːr/, is an aquatic flowering plant in the family Nymphaeaceae.[5][6][7] It is native to North Africa, temperate Asia, Europe and tropical Asia (Jammu and Kashmir).[8]
Description
[edit]Nymphaea alba has a white flower that usually blooms during the daytime in most summer. The flower blooms on top of a big rounded green leaf up to 30 cm: both leaves float on the water's surface. At first, the flower bloom is cup-shaped, with a size of around 8 cm, then it rises to 20 cm and becomes star-shaped over time. The flower's petals are arranged in a row, pointing up surrounding several yellow stamens.[9][10] The leaves can be up to 30 cm (12 in) in diameter and take up a spread of 150 cm (59 in) per plant.[7]
Cytology
[edit]The chromosome count is n = 42. The genome size is 1950 Mb.[11]
Taxonomy
[edit]It was first published and described by Carl Linnaeus in his book 'Species Plantarum', on page 510 in 1753.[8][12]
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.[13]
Nymphaea candida J. Presl is sometimes considered a subspecies of N. alba (N. alba L. subsp. candida (J. Presl) Korsh.).[10]
Distribution and habitat
[edit]Nymphaea alba is native all over Europe and in parts of North Africa and the Middle East in fresh water.[2][10] 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.[8] It has been introduced to the Azores, Bangladesh, Chile, parts of China, Myanmar, and New Zealand.[2]
Nymphaceae alba grows in ponds, ditches, lakes, or canals because these places have still and very slow-moving water. For example, lakes and ponds were created by gravel extraction as fishponds or for livestock, and lakes are just temporary features filled with sediment under and developing fen vegetation. Moreover, canals and ditches are more common than ponds since these are artificial water bodies created for transport or recreation; these places can support wildlife, such as attracting other species of insects or providing a shelter for frogs and early nectar insects.[14]
Phytochemistry
[edit]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.[15]
Cultivation
[edit]Nymphaea alba needs plenty of space since it grows up to 4 in tall and 3 to 5 ft wide. This plant performs best under full sun in loamy soil and undisturbed water. The basket covers the plant with a pea shingle placed under the water's surface around 6 to 10 inches, and the lower part of the plant can be twice the initial planting depth when the plant is formed. This plant can be fed during the growing season by proprietary aquatic fertilizer.[citation needed]
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red cultivar
References
[edit]- ^ 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.
- ^ a b c d "Nymphaea alba L." Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 11 January 2024.
- ^ "Nymphaea alba subsp. alba". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 11 January 2024.
- ^ "Nymphaea alba subsp. occidentalis (Ostenf.) Hyl". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 11 January 2024.
- ^ "nenuphar". The Chambers Dictionary (9th ed.). Chambers. 2003. ISBN 0-550-10105-5.
- ^ "nenuphar". Lexico. Archived from the original on 2022-04-01. Retrieved 2022-04-01.
- ^ a b "White Water Lily (Nymphaea odorata)". www.dnr.state.mn.us. Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Retrieved 18 August 2015.
- ^ a b c "Taxon: Nymphaea alba L." Retrieved 23 October 2017.
- ^ "Nymphaea alba (White Water Lily)". www.gardenia.net.
- ^ a b c Anderberg, Anders (1996). "Vit näckros". www.linnaeus.nrm.se (in Swedish). Swedish Museum of Natural History. Retrieved 18 August 2015.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Nymphaeaceae Nymphaea alba L." .pni.org. Retrieved 23 October 2017.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "White water-lily | The Wildlife Trusts". www.wildlifetrusts.org. Retrieved 2024-11-19.
- ^ Nielsen (1979). Giftplanter [Poisonous plants]. Gyldendals grønne håndbøger (in Norwegian). Cappelen. pp. 68–69. ISBN 8701318411.
