Giant waterlily, Blue waterlily
Nymphaea gigantea
Family: Nymphaeaceae
What it is like
A water lily. A plant which grows in water. It grows 8-40 cm high and spreads 0.9-3.5 m wide. It is a herb with a round rhizome or underground stem. The leaves are 80 cm across. They are round but with a slit towards the centre. They float on the water. They are green. The edges have uneven teeth about 0.5 cm long. The flowers are about 25 cm across. They grow on stems which reach 50 cm above the water. There are 4 sepals and 32 petals. The sepals are 11 cm long and green with purple stripes. The petals are white, pink or blue. The flowers open during the day and close at night. The fruit is a berry 5 cm across. It is round.
There are about 50 Nymphaea species.
Where it is found
It is a warm temperate, subtropical and tropical plant. It usually grows in pools or permanent water. It can grow in water 1-3 m deep. It grows in soft mud. It needs water above 27°C to bloom and grow. It suits hardiness zones 11-12.
Countries/locations it is found in
Australia (country/location of origin), Pacific, Papua New Guinea
How it is used for food
The porous seed stalk is peeled and eaten raw or roasted. The tubers are roasted and eaten. The seed heads are eaten raw.
Edible parts
Flower stalks, seeds, roots, rhizome
How it is grown
Plants can be grown from seed or by division of the rhizome.
Its other names
Local names
Bubuga, Jirrch, Kaooroo, Miani, Mijagarlawurr