Waterlily
Nymphaea lotus var. pubescens

Family: Nymphaeaceae

What it is like

A herb which grows in water. The rhizome creeps in the mud. They produce slender stolons or runners. The leaves are oval or round. They are deeply divided into a heart shape. They have coarse teeth. Leaves are 15-26 cm across. They float on the water. They are papery. They are hairy underneath. The leaf stalk is cylindrical. The flowers are above the water. The flowers occur singly. There are 4 outer green segments. There are 12-14 petals. Flowers are large (5-8 cm across) and white, pink or violet. The fruit is round and compressed. It is fleshy and ripens under the water. There are many seeds, which are round. The seeds are 1-2 mm across and have lines along them. Now Nymphaea pubescens.

There are about 50 Nymphaea species. Chemical composition (grams per 100g): Protein = 9.3g. Fat = .78%. Carbohydrate (soluble) = 66.78%. Fibre = 5.81%. Ash = 6.32g Water = 10.94g. Calories = 319.

Where it is found

A tropical and subtropical plant. It is cultivated in ditches and ponds. In China it grows in ponds in the hills. In Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Bangladesh, China, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Myanmar, Northeastern India, Pacific, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, SE Asia, Sikkim, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam

How it is used for food

The stalks of the flowers are edible. They are eaten raw or added to soup. The seeds can be eaten raw when the fruit are green. The seeds from dry heads are removed and ground into flour and used for bread. The root can be baked or boiled and eaten.

It is cultivated.

Edible parts

Flower stalks

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Ghitola, Kanda, Kumplis, Chongkonnee, Rou mao chi ye shui lian

Synonyms

Nymphaea pubescens Willd.;