Nuphar lutea - Yellow Water Lily

Family:	Nymphaeaceae
Habit:	Perennial
Width:	1.5
Synonyms:	Nymphaea lutea.
Range:	Europe, including Britain, to N. Asia.

Nuphar lutea (Yellow Water Lily) is a Perennial and a width of 1.5m . It has a hardness rating of 4.
Yellow Water Lily will flower in December to February. the seeds ripen from February to March
The flowers from this plant are hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and they are pollinated by Flies

Soil Information

Yellow Water Lily will grow in light (sandy),medium (loamy),hard (clay) soil. It is not necessary for the soil to be well drained.
The soil prefers the following PH / acid levels :
- pH of less than 6, Acidic soils
- pH between 6 and 8, Neutral soils
- pH greater than 8, Basic soils
Yellow Water Lily prefers soils

Ideal Planting Locations

Yellow Water Lily can grow in semi or areas with no shade.

Deep, slow moving or still water to a depth of 3m[19, 100].

Planting places suited to this plant described below.

• Is a pond plant

Cultivation Details

A water plant requiring a rich soil and a sunny position[1, 56]. Succeeds in light shade[200]. It is best grown in still water up to 250cm deep but it also tolerates slow moving water[200]. Prefers shallow water[1]. Plants are hardy to about -20°c[187]. The flowers have a sickly scent[188]. The flowers have a brandy-like scent[245]. This unique smell is due to a combination of acetic acid and ethyl alcohol to form ethylacetate[245].

Edible Uses*

* See disclaimer
Edible Rating: 3/5
Root - cooked[2, 46, 61, 177, 183]. An edible starch can be extracted from the root[183]. A possible emergency food[61]. The root has a bitter flavour - this bitterness can be removed by leaching the root in water[K]. Leaves and leaf stalks - cooked[2, 177, 183]. Seed - cooked[105]. It can be ground into a powder and used in making bread and porridge, or for thickening soups etc[207]. The seed can also be parched, when it swells considerably but does not burst like popcorn[183]. It is then normally eaten dry[207]. A refreshing drink is made from the flowers[2, 183].

• Drink - not including plant saps, tea or coffee substitutes.
• Leaves -
• Root - includes bulbs, corms, tubers, rhizomes etc.
• Seed - includes nuts, cereals, peas and beans.

Medicinal Uses*

* See disclaimer
Medicinal Rating: 2/5
The roots are anaphrodisiac, anodyne, antiscrofulatic, astringent, cardiotonic, demulcent and sedative[4]. Caution should be exercised because large doses are potentially toxic[222]. A tea made from the roots is used in the treatment of 'sexual irritability', blood diseases, chills etc[4, 222]. The root is poulticed and applied to swellings, inflammations, cuts etc[4, 222]. The root contains steroids and is a folk remedy for infertility[222]. Alkaloids in the root are reportedly hypotensive, antispasmodic, cardiac, tonic and vasoconstrictor[222].

• Anaphrodisiac - Reduces sexual desire.
• Anodyne - Relieves pain, it is milder than an analgesic.
• Antiscrophulatic - Counteracts scrofula. (TB, especially of the lymph glands)
• Antispasmodic - Relaxes muscular spasms and cramps, calming nervous irritation.
• Astringent - Produces contraction in living tissue, reducing the flow of secretions and discharges of blood, mucus, diarrhoea etc.
• Cardiotonic - A tonic for the heart.
• Demulcent - Soothes, lubricates and softens irritated tissues, especially the mucous membranes.
• Hypotensive - Reduces blood pressure, it is used in the treatment of high blood pressure
• Sedative - Gently calms, reducing nervousness, distress and irritation.
• Vasoconstrictor - Narrows the blood vessels, thereby increasing blood pressure.

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[200]. Division in May. Each portion must have at least one eye. Submerge in pots in shallow water until established[56].

Scented parts of the plants

Flowers : Fresh

Known Hazards

There are a number of reports that the plant is edible but one report suggests that the plant is poisonous without giving further details[19].

Other Uses

None known

Cultivars

no recorded cultivars

References

Flora of the British Isles.
Clapham, Tootin and Warburg.
Author: Clapham, Tootin and Warburg.
Rating:
Publisher : A very comprehensive flora, the standard reference book but it has no pictures.
Date of Publication : 1962

The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Huxley. A.
Author: Huxley. A.
Rating:
Publisher : Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
Date of Publication : 1992

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