Rocky mountain pondlily
Nuphar polysepala

Family: Nymphaeaceae

What it is like

A waterlily. It keeps growing from year to year. It has a creeping spongy rootstock. It can be 3-8 cm across. The leaves are almost heart shaped with 2 deep lobes at the base. The leaves are dull green and thick. They float on water. They are 40 cm long and 25 cm wide. The leaf stalks can be 15 mm thick. The flowers are round and stand out of the water. They are 10-13 cm across. There are 7 to 9 dark yellow sepals. The petals are somewhat hidden. The stamens are in 5-7 rows. The seeds are edible.

There are about 10-25 Nuphar species.

Where it is found

It grows from Arctic to subtropical climates. It grows in ponds and slow flowing water. It suits hardiness zones 4-9.

Countries/locations it is found in

Alaska, Australia, Canada, North America, USA

How it is used for food

The seeds are roasted and eaten or ground into a mealy flour. The roots are boiled or roasted and eaten as a vegetable.

It is a famine food.

Edible parts

Seeds, roots

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Cow lily, Spatterdock, Great Yellow Pond-lily

Synonyms

Nuphar lutea subsp. polysepala (Engelm.) E. O. Beal; Nymphaea polysepala (Engelm.) Greene; Nymphozanthus polysepalus (Engelm.) Fernald;