Pygmy Water Lily, Four-angled water-lily
Nymphaea tetragona

Family: Nymphaeaceae

What it is like

A herb. It grows in water. The rhizomes or underground stems are erect and unbranched. The leaf blade is heart shaped to oval and 5-12 cm long by 3.5-9 cm wide. It is papery. It is smooth underneath. The base is deeply heart shaped and the lobes at the base are parallel or almost touching. The flower is floating. It is 3-6 cm across. The connection to the receptacle is 4 sided. There are 8-15 petals which are white. The fruit is round and 2-2.5 cm across. The seeds are narrowly oval and 2-3 mm long. They are smooth.

There are about 50 Nymphaea species.

Where it is found

It is a temperate plant. It grows in ponds and lakes from near sea level to 4000 m in China. It grows in wetlands. It suits hardiness zones 3-9. In Sichuan and Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Australia, Canada, Central Asia, China, Europe, Finland, India, Indochina, Japan, Kashmir, Kazakhstan, Korea, Mongolia, Myanmar, North America, Russia, Scandinavia, SE Asia, Taiwan, USA, Vietnam

How it is used for food

The rhizome is used for food.

Edible parts

Seeds, leaf buds, rhizome, root, flowers

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Co, Kya-pu, Shui lian, Sung shi, Sung vuong

Synonyms

Nymphaea pygmaea Ait.;