Nuphar polysepala - Spatterdock

Family:	Nymphaeaceae
Habit:	Perennial
Height:	1.8
Synonyms:	N. lutea polysepala. (Engelm.)E.O.Beal.
Range:	Western N. America - Alaska to California.

Nuphar polysepala (Spatterdock) is a Perennial which grows to a height of 1.8m . It has a hardness rating of 4.
Spatterdock will flower in January to February. The flowers from this plant are hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and they are pollinated by Flies

Soil Information

Spatterdock 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
Spatterdock prefers soils

Ideal Planting Locations

Spatterdock can grow in semi or areas with no shade.

Ponds, shallow lakes and slow-flowing rivers[60, 187], from valleys to almost 3,000 metres in the mountains[212].

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]. It is best grown in still water up to 75cm deep but it also tolerates slow moving water[200]. Succeeds in light shade[200]. Plants are hardy to about -20°c[187].

Edible Uses*

* See disclaimer
Edible Rating: 3/5
Root - raw or cooked[2, 161]. Boiled or baked[2, 85, 94]. The root can also be dried and ground into a flour[85]. The rather strong taste can be removed by soaking the root in water prior to use[85]. The N. American Indians used the roots in times of famine[212]. Seed - raw or cooked[2, 46, 61, 101, 161]. The fairly large seed can be dried and ground into a powder and then be used for making porridge or mixed with other flours for making bread[94, 172]. When roasted it resembles popcorn in flavour[212].

• Root - includes bulbs, corms, tubers, rhizomes etc.
• Seed - includes nuts, cereals, peas and beans.

Medicinal Uses*

* See disclaimer
Medicinal Rating: 1/5
The root is analgesic and antihaemorrhagic[257]. A decoction is taken in the treatment of pain in any part of the body, and for lung haemorrhages, TB etc[257]. A poultice made from the root is used in the treatment of any pain, rheumatic joints, sores etc[257].

• Analgesic - Relieves pain.
• Haemostatic - Controls internal bleeding.
• Poultice - A moist, usually warm or hot, mass of plant material applied to the skin in the treatment of burns etc.

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].

Known Hazards

None known

Other Uses

None known

Cultivars

no recorded cultivars

References

Vascular Plants of the Pacific Northwest.
Hitchcock. C. L.
Author: Hitchcock. C. L.
Rating:
Publisher : A standard flora for Western N. America with lots of information on habitat etc. Five large volumes, it is not for the casual reader.
Date of Publication : 1955

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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