Tiny waterlily
Nymphaea nouchali

Family: Nymphaeaceae

What it is like

A herb which grows in water and keeps growing for several years. It is about 1.5 m high. The rhizomes or underground stems are erect and unbranched. The leaves arise from the base of the plant and are very large with few teeth around the edge. The leaves are shaped like an arrowhead. They are green on the upper surface and reddish on the lower surface. Leaves are 13 cm long and 7-10 cm wide. They can be 45 cm across. They are on long stalks. The flowers are slightly above the water. The flowers are very large with white petals tinged with pink or yellow. The flowers are 8-18 cm across. There are 10-30 petals. The fruit are fleshy. They are round and 1.5-4.5 cm across. There are many seeds inside. The seeds are oval or round and 0.5-1.3 mm across. They have rows of hairs along them.

There are about 50 Nymphaea species.

Where it is found

It is a tropical and subtropical plant. It grows in ditches and rice fields. It grows in wetlands. They are widely distributed in the Philippines being very abundant in some lakes. It can grow in arid places. In Ethiopia it grows between 550-1,800 m above sea level. In Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Afghanistan, Africa, Andamans, Asia, Australia, Bangladesh, Botswana, Cambodia, China, East Africa, Egypt, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Himalayas, Hungary, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Kenya, Laos, Malawi, Malaysia, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, North Africa, Northeastern India, Pacific, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, SE Asia, South Africa, Southern Africa, Sri Lanka, Swaziland, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Zululand

How it is used for food

The seed are parched and eaten raw or roasted. The ripe fruit are eaten raw. The roots are cooked and eaten. The stalks are also eaten raw or cooked as a vegetable. The flowers are eaten.

It is a commercially cultivated vegetable. The stalks are sold in markets.

Edible parts

Flower stalks, tubers, root, rhizomes, seeds, vegetable, flowers

How it is grown

Plants can be grown by dividing the tuberous rhizomes

It is fast growing. Tubers are normally available throughout the year. Fruit are available September to December.

Its other names

Local names

Alenger, Alli-tamara, Alli-tamarai, Ambal, Ati-ati paya, Bambher, Bhenghi, Biga bhet, Blue lotus, Boga seluk, Bua phuean, Bua puan, Chota kanwal, Chotakamal, Dhabalakain, Geleila, Indian red waterlily, Izibo, Kaehe, Kamal, Kampone aluk, Kanval, Kara neythal, Kath mouka, Kiyho, Koi, Koka, Krishnakamal, Kumodhini, Kya-ni, Kya-nyo, Kya-pya, Lalakamal, Lal shapla, Lumchang phka khiew, Mokuva, Nal, Nallakalava, Narok, Neerambal, Nela tavare, Nilakain, Nilikulava, Nilkamal, Nilopala, Nilophal, Nilotpalam, Nilpadma, Nilshapla, Norokuwo, Nyadale huvu, Periambal, Poyani, Prolett, Pulau, Pundi salukid, Raktakamal, Rakto-kambal, Rangkain, Safla bubar, Sapla, Seluk, Serojoa biru, Shaluk, Shapla, Sitambel, Subdikain, Sung lam, Telepok, Tella-kalava, Teratai kechil, Thariktha, Tharo-angangba, Tharol, Tharo mari, Thoblo, Toblo, Tswii, Tunjong biru, Tunjung, Uplia kamal, Vellambal, White shapla, Yan yao shui lian

Synonyms

Castalia caerulea Tratt.; Castalia stellaris Salisb.; Castalia stellata (Willd.) Woodv. & Wood; Castalia stellata Blume; Nymphaea caerulea Savigny; Nymphaea calliantha Conard; Nymphaea capensis Thunb.; Nymphaea stellata Willd.;