Plant Indices
- Alphabetical Index (Genera)
- Alphabetical Index (Vernacular)
- Cladistic Index
WATER LILY (Nymphaeaceae)
Order: Nymphaeales
|
| Water Lily on the Coat of Arms for Ādaži Municipality, Latvia. |
- Afrikaans: Luiblilie, Waterlelie
- Zulu: Kengwabanga
- Yoruba: Upo
- Cantonese: Siu Lian
- Japanese: Ogatamo, Suiren
- Korean: Kengul, Paema
- Mandarin: Siu Lian, Yan Lian
- Assamese: Bundaloi, Khokhopu
- Bengali: Komalkheti, Shapla, Telia Kamal
- Hindi: Aakaskamal, Jal Kamal
- Konkani: Chengam
- Malayalam: Ambarezhukal, Mummulan
- Marathi: Piyar Pushp, Sutala
- Nepali: Pokharel
- Sanskrit: Jalavanti, Kamala, Kumuda, Padma, Pundarika, Pushkara, Salabhanjika, Udumbara, Utpala
- Sinhala: Manel, Ratmal
- Tamil: Ambal
- Telugu: Kandaka
- Urdu: Anduz
- Cebuano: Tagaray
- Indonesian: Leleka, Teratai
- Ilocano: Tindok
- Javanese: Suketja
- Kapampangan: Pangpang
- Khmer: Baang
- Malay: Kelabau, Leli Air, Teratai
- Tagalog: Kapi-Kapi
- Thai: Bai Bua, Thàm Bua
- Vietnamese: Sót
- Arabic: Zambaq
- Armenian: Knapul
- Hebrew: Halamit Mayim
- Kurdish: Gule Nilufer
- Persian: Gul Dodi, Nilofar
- Turkish: Nilüfer, Su Nilüferi, Su Zambağı, Zambak
- Czech: Leknín, Lilja Vodní, Vodní Růže
- German: Seerose, Teichrose, Wasserlilie, Wasserpflanze, Wasserrose, Weiße Seerose, Weisse Seerose
- Hungarian: Candók, Lótusz, Lótuszvirág
- LINGUA IGNOTA: Gischiz
- Polish: Dwiloba, Leknyen, Lilia Wodna
- Slovak: Biela Leknica, Vodná Ľalia, Vodná Ruža
- Bosnian: Vodena Ruža
- Croatian: Baka-Lilija, Vodeni Ljiljan
- Estonian: Pärllilja, Vesiruusu, Vesiroos
- Latvian: Balta Ūdensroze
- Lithuanian: Balta Lelija, Bružuolė, Puchis
- Romanian: Lilia De Apă
- Russian: Bilaia Kubishka, Vodyanaya Liliya
- Serbian: Lokvanj
- Danish: Nøkkerose
- Finnish: Lumme, Vesiruusu
- Icelandic: Bloomlilja, Gölrós, Hvít Vatnalilja, Vatnslilja
- Norwegian: Blå Nøkkerose, Nøkkerose, Tåkblomst
- Swedish: Lökken, Vattenlija
- Basque: Aizaztaile
- Catalan: Nénufar
- Galician: Arrosa De Auga
- Greek: Nimphaia, Niphè
- Italian: Ninfea, Salvinia
- Maltese: Fyor Tal-Ilma
- Portuguese: Aguapé, Fleur De Lótus, Jacinto De Água, Lirio Do Lago, Nenúfar, Ninféia, Náiade, Rosa De Agua
- Spanish: Aleli De Agua, Castalia, Flor De Loto, Lirio De Agua, Rosa De Agua
- Breton: Traonon
- Dutch: Blauwe Waterlelie, Blauwlotos, Drijvende Waterlelie, Waterlelie
- English: Water Lily, Sea Rose, White Water Lily
- French: Lotus, Lotus D'eau, Nénuphar, Nénuphar Blanc, Nymphéa, Nymphéa Blanc
- Irish: Bród Na Móna, Duileog Bháite, Treanntair
- Scottish Gaelic: Ar-Duileag Bhàn
- Māori: Taratahi, Tavatava
This is a family of rhizomatous aquatic herbs native to temperate and tropical environments worldwide. The family contains nine genera, but only three are of interest to this compiler.
Water lilies live in bodies of water, with their roots extending down to the soil at the bottom. Their leaves and flowers either float on the water or just emerge from the surface. The leaves are round with a radial notch.
Courage
In modern flower language, water lilies are emblems of courage and rising above struggles.
Grief and Separation
In Sangham and Tamil literature and poetry, it's employed as a symbol of grief and separation due to its superficial resemblance to an image of the sunset, the beach, and the shark. (No idea how they got to "shark.")
Birth flower of the month of July.
Lotus and Water Lily
Due to their very similar habits, much of the symbolism between the lotus and water lily is completely interchangeable.
Seeblatter
Lily pads/leaves are common charges in the heraldry of Northern Europe. Called "seeblätter" (singular "seeblätt"), they're typically painted red, and in the case of Danish heraldry, are often replaced with hearts.
Seven leaves of the water lily or "swan flower" decorated the coat of arms of Frisia, as with the banner of King Herwic on a field of blue.
|
|
Seeblätter on the Coat of Arms of the Duchy of Engern. From chrudeburg on Flickr. |
In the folklore of Germany, water nymphs assume the shape of water lilies to hide from mortal men.
Meanwhile, nixies, the evil spirits of water, hides beneath the large, round leaves of the water lily in order to drown any who attempt to pick the plant, which the nixies are claimed to call "sea roses," according to Skinner.
Skinner also relays the Wallachian belief that this flower, for its scentless purity, stands as judge over other flowers.
- The notion of the water lily as "judge" of other flowers has implications for counterspells or the status of water nymphs in a faerie hierarchy. Worth exploring further.
- Scentlessness is tied to purity, and therefore strongly scented flowers being associated with corruption is an angle worth playing.
- The idea that water lilies resemble an image of sunset has a lot of possible applications, both in terms of a foreshadowing device, a motif of tragedy, and an explicit tool in the hands of a spellcaster. Consider looking for similar resemblances in other plants for similar exploitation.
* * * * * * *
WATER LILY (Nymphaea)
Family: Nymphaeaceae
|
|
Cultivated Nymphaea strain, "Attraction." Own work--Eeno11 |
- Swahili: Kanze
- Afrikaans: Waterlelie, Waterrose
- Kazakh: Alakol
- Chinese: Bai He
- Japanese: Suiren
- Bengali: Jahalphul, Shapla
- Hindi: Kamal
- Malayalam: Kamalam
- Marathi: Aliv
- Sanskrit: Kumuda, Pankaj
- Tamil: Ambal, Kamalam
- Urdu: Kamal
- Javanese: Suketja
- Arabic: Saluk
- Hebrew: Shoshana Mayim
- Persian: Nilofar
- Turkish: Nilüfer, Su Nilüferi
- German: Seerose, Teichrose
- LINGUA IGNOTA: Gischiz
- Polish: Lilia Wodna
- Estonian: Tavirose, Valge Vesiroos
- Norwegian: Vannlilje
- Swedish: Vattenros
- Greek: Ninféia
- Italian: Ninfea
- Portuguese: Branco Lírio D'água, Lotus, Nenúfar, Ninféia
- Spanish: Nenúfar
- Dutch: Waterlelie
- English: Water Lily, Sea Rose, Swan Flower
- French: Fleur De Lótus, Lotus, Lotus D'eau, Nymphéa
Native to:
- Africa, Central: Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Republic of the Congo, Rwanda
- Africa, Eastern: Comoros, Ethiopia, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique, Somalia, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe
- Africa, Northern: Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, Tunisia
- Africa, Southern: Angola, Botswana, Eswatini, Namibia, South Africa (Cape Provinces, Free State, KwaZulu-Natal, Northern Provinces)
- Africa, Western: Benin, Burkina Faso, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Togo
- America, North: Belize, Canada (Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland, Northwest Territories, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Saskatchewan, Yukon), Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Puerto Rico, United States (Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin)
- America, South: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Uruguay, Venezuela
- Asia, Central: Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Russia (Altay, Tuva), Uzbekistan, Xinjiang
- Asia, East: China, Japan, Korea, Russia (Amur, Buryatiya, Chita, Irkutsk, Kamchatka, Khabarovsk, Krasnoyarsk, Kuril Islands, Magadan, Primorye, Sakhalin, Yakutiya), Taiwan
- Asia, South: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India (Andaman Islands, Assam), Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka
- Asia, Southeast: Cambodia, Indonesia (Java, Lesser Sunda Islands, New Guinea, Sumatra), Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam
- Asia, Western: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Oman, Palestine, Syria, Turkey, Yemen
- Europe, Central: Austria, Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia, Switzerland
- Europe, Eastern: Albania, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Montenegro, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovenia, Ukraine
- Europe, Northern: Denmark, Finland, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden
- Europe, Southern: Corsica, Greece, Italy, Portugal, Spain (Baleares)
- Europe, Western: Belgium, England, France, Ireland, Scotland
- Oceania: Australia (New South Wales, Northern Territory, Queensland, Western Australia)
Extinct in:
- Europe, Southern: Italy (Sardinia, Sicily)
Distribution: Cosmopolitan.
A genus of hardy and tender aquatic plants. They are either tuberous or rhizomatous (branched or unbranched), and can be annuals or perennials.
Nymphaea leaves are round with a radial notch. The flowers of Nyphaea are pollinated by beetles.
|
|
Nymphaea lotus var. thermalis leaf. Own work--Conan Wolff. |
These plants are named for the mythical Greek nature sprites, the Nymphs.
Courage
In modern flower language, water lilies are emblems of courage and rising above struggles.
Chastity
Skinner indicates that the water lily was a common emblem of chastity, because it emerges freely from pure water and opens with snow-white petals. For this reason it is averse to love, which might corrupt its purity.
Purity
Per Greenaway, the Victorian meaning for any with white flowers is "purity of heart."
A common emblem in Teutonic heraldry. Seven leaves of the water lily or "swan flower" decorated the coat of arms of Frisia, as with the banner of King Herwic on a field of blue.
Water Sprites
In the folklore of Germany, water nymphs assume the shape of water lilies to hide from mortal men. Meanwhile, nixies, the evil spirits of water, hide beneath the large, round leaves of the water lily in order to drown any who attempt to pick the plant, which the nixies are claimed to call "sea rose."
Judge of Flowers
Skinner relays the Wallachian belief that all flowers have souls, and their judge is the white water lily. If the scentless water lily judges that a flower has used its aroma generously and well, they are permitted to pass St. Peter's gate and bloom eternally in Heaven. If not, they whither and disappear into eternal death.
Counter-Enchantment
According to Skinner this plant's aversion to romantic love was so great that in antiquity it was thought that carrying it was sufficient to break the effects of a love potion that had been administered secretly to the patient.
Gelding Potion
The Romans held that making a boy drink crushed Nymphaea in vinegar for ten consecutive days turned him into a eunuch.
Liminality
The plant's dual nature, in being both above and below the water played into beliefs related to its narcotic effects, lending the plant a transcendent reputation.
We are not a medical website, do not take health advice from us.
Narcotic
Water lilies have a history of being used as ritual narcotics, as alluded to in the Odyssey. They contain the alkaloids nupharine and nymphaeine, which are said to have sedative properties, and, depending on your source are said to be aphrodisiac or anaphrodisiac properties.
All species of Nymphaea produce the psychoactive alkaloid aporphine, though the production is inconsistent even within species. This chemical is frequently confused with apomorphine, which is further compounded by the fact that when metabolized aporphine becomes apomorphine.
All Nymphaea contain the alkaloid poison nupharin. European species contain large amounts and are regarded as inedible. The toxicity in some European species may be seasonal.
The seeds of all species and the tubers of some are edible, containing no nupharin and being almost entirely starch during the dry season. In some species that do generate nupharin in the tubers, they may be boiled to neutralize the chemical. This boiling dates back to Ancient Egypt. All African and Asian species are edible, and are commonly eaten in China, West Africa, and Madagascar, where they were boiled and roasted.
In India the rhizomes of water lilies were eaten as a famine food. In one floodplain region, the rhizomes are eaten more regularly, where they are pounded into a flour and used to make bread. In Vietnam these rhizomes are roasted.
Rhizome use in West Africa varied by regions. Some ate it as a famine food roasted in ashes or ground into flour. Others would eat it raw.
- Re: the story of flowers entering Heaven: If the eternal death is Hell, this implies that there are flowers in Hell, which means, withered or not, they might be harvested. How might one harvest damned flowers? How would they differ from their living counterparts? Would they qualify as undead?
- The vinegar-gelding of the Romans presents opportunities for perverting the purity of this flower into a malefic. Might ten days of sympathetic poisoning with water lily render the magician's rival impotent? What would the consequences be if this was not necessarily sexually, but creatively/politically/martially?
- Could the inconsistent aphrodisiac/anaphrodisiac attributions themselves be employed as a malefic? Taking advantage of the plant's own liminal qualities and turning them upside down, such a curse might render the target sexually unresponsive in the presence of the carnal (beneath the surface, the dark, no flower), while receptive and agitated in more modest settings (above the surface, in the light, flower)?
- Could fouling a white water lily sympathetically curse the reputation of a judge?
Asian Blue Water Lily (Nymphaea nouchali)
|
|
Nymphaea nouchali, somewhere in Vietnam. Own work--Nguyễn Tấn Phát. |
- Bengali: Bada Shapla, Chaphul, Halud Shapla, Kamala, Nil Kamal, Nil Shapla, Nilotpal, Nouchali, Shapla
- Hindi: Ambuj, Kamal, Karhar, Kasturi Kamal, Neel Kamal, Nīlkamal, Nīlōpal
- Kannada: Kaḍaga
- Malayalam: Eiavar, Kamalam, Kurinji, Kuvalayam, Neelotpalam, Nilmanikkam, Niluppala
- Marathi: Kanval, Kokā, Kokāful
- Odia: Dhaibbroad
- Sanskrit: Esthwarum, Indivara, Kuvalaya, Nīlākāsa, Nīlāmbu, Nilāmbujam, Nīlōtpala, Nīlpadma, Rakta-Utpala, Utpala
- Sinhala: Manel
- Tamil: Ambal, Bak-Ambal, Kamalam, Kattuthāmarai, Kaulu, Kolavai, Kuvalai, Neelambal, Thamaraipoovu, Vellambal
- Telugu: Kamalamu, Kandaka
- Urdu: Kamal, Neelofar
- Burmese: Innthar
- Ilocano: Beng-Et
- Thai: Bua Sai
- Persian: Nilofar
- German: Indische Blaue Seerose
- Finnish: Allikukka
- Swedish: Indisk Blå Näckros
- Italian: Ninfea Blu, Ninfea Stellata
- Portuguese: Lilia Azul, Nenúfar Azul
- Dutch: Indiase Blauwe Waterlelie
- English: Asian Blue Water Lily, Asian Water Lily, Blue Lotus, Blue Lotus Of India, Blue Star Lotus, Blue Star Water Lily, Blue Water Lily, Indian Blue Lotus, Indian Blue Water Lily, Red Water Lily, Star Lotus, Stellate Water Lily
- French: Lotus Bleu, Lotus Bleu Indien, Nénuphar Bleu, Nénuphar Étoilé, Nymphéa Bleu
- Africa, Central: Angola, Chad, Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo (Zaïre)
- Africa, Eastern: Burundi, Comoros, Ethiopia, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda, Somalia, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe
- Africa, Northern: Egypt, Sudan
- Africa, Southern: Botswana, Eswatini (Swaziland), Namibia, South Africa (Cape Provinces, Free State, KwaZulu-Natal, Northern Provinces)
- Asia, East: China (South-Central, Southeast, Hainan), Taiwan
- Asia, South: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India (Assam), Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka
- Asia, Southeast: Cambodia, Indonesia (Lesser Sunda Is., Sumatera), Laos, Malaysia (Malaya), Myanmar, Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam
- Asia, West: Oman, Palestine, Yemen
National flower of Bangladesh.
Virtues
In South Asia, this plant is a symbol of virtue, discipline, and purity.
The Journey of Enlightenment
According to the Buddhist lore of Sri Lanka, this flower was one of the 108 auspicious signs found in the footprint of Prince Siddhartha, and that when he died, wherever he had walked these flowers blossomed.
We are not a medical website, do not take health advice from us.
Used in Ayurvedic medicine to create a digestive medicine called ambal.
The nupharin alkaloid can (and must) be neutralized by boiling prior to eating.
Edible, often as a famine food. During the dry season the dried plant is gathered and used as animal fodder.
- "Ambal" might be a good name for a character driven by law and order.
- Each blue lotus is a reminder that Buddha walked the earth.
- There is some variation in color, as indicated by the name "red water lily." Consider playing with rare color variations as markers of significance.
Egyptian Blue Water Lily (Nymphaea nouchali var. caerulia)
|
|
Nymphaea nouchali var. caerulia. From treknature.com. |
- Egyptian: Bachinin, Seshen, Zaparna
- Afrikaans: Egiptiese Blou Waterlelie, Kaapse Blou Waterlelie
- Bengali: Nil Kamal, Nil Shapla
- Sanskrit: Nilotpala, Utpala
- Arabic: Ain El-Baqar, Arrous El-Nil, Bashneen
- German: Blaue Lotosblume
- Danish: Blå Egyptisk Lotus
- Swedish: Blå Egyptisk Näckros, Nilblå Lotus
- Italian: Ninfea Azzurra, Ninfea Blu, Ninfea Caerulea
- Portuguese: Flor De Lótus Azul
- Spanish: Alfombra De Agua, Flor De Loto Azul, Nenúfar Azul, Nenúfar Azul De Egipto
- Dutch: Blauwe Egyptische Lotus, Blauwe Lotus, Blauwe Waterlelie
- English: Egyptian Blue Water Lily, African Blue Lily, African Blue Water Lily, Blue Egyptian Lotus, Blue Egyptian Water Lily, Blue Lotus, Blue Lotus Of Egypt, Blue Lotus Of The Nile, Blue Nile Lily, Blue Sacred Lily, Blue Sacred Lotus, Blue Water Lily, Cape Blue Water Lily, Cape Water Lily, Egyptian Blue Lily, Egyptian Blue Lotus, Egyptian Lotus, Frog's Pulpit, Sacred Blue Lily, Sacred Blue Lily of the Nile, Sacred Blue Lotus, Sacred Lily Of The Nile, Sacred Lotus
- French: Lotus Bleu, Lotus Bleu D'égypte, Lotus Bleu Du Nil, Lotus D'égypte Bleu, Nénuphar Bleu, Nénuphar Bleu D'égypte, Nénuphar Bleu Du Nil, Nymphéa Bleu
- Africa, Central: Angola, Chad, Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo (Zaïre)
- Africa, Eastern: Burundi, Comoros, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda, Somalia, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe
- Africa, Northern: Egypt, Sudan
- Africa, Southern: Botswana, Eswatini (Swaziland), Namibia, South Africa (Cape Provinces, Free State, KwaZulu-Natal, Northern Provinces)
- Asia, West: Oman, Palestine, Yemen
An aquatic plant found in freshwater lakes, pools, and rivers. Its roots can tolerate anoxic mud and nutrient poor conditions.
Associated with snails that can spread schistosomiasis ("bilharzia," "Katayama fever," "snail fever") via parasitic flatworms.
Immortality
The white lotus (N. lotus) opens at dusk and closes at dawn, in contrast to the blue Egyptian water lily, which opens at dawn and closes at dusk. This makes the white lotus a funerary emblem, in contrast to the blue Egyptian water lily. Together, they form an emblem of resurrection and eternal life, as both were found in the burial tomb of Ramses II. Petals of this flower have also been found cast over the mummies of other pharaohs.
Theogony
It was taught at Heliopolis that Re emerged from a lotus from the primordial waters. A similar story was told of Atum emerging from a lotus as though from an egg (this appears to have been related to the flower's color). It was also a symbol of the goddess Nefertem. According to Tresidder, it was Horus who emerged from the flower blossom (possibly Re-Horahkti?), thus attaining eternal youth.
Purity as Practice
In Egypt and in Chinese Buddhism, the blue lily was considered an emblem of modesty and moral cleanliness.
Bascinet of Prophets
Skinner relays that this flower was supposedly the cradle of Moses.
Long history in the production of perfumes.
Believed to have been the inspiration for the capitals of ionic columns.
We are not a medical website, do not take health advice from us.
The psychoactive alkaloids found in all Nymphaea are more concentrated in this subspecies. There is some indication that these chemicals were known to the Egyptians and even across the ocean by the Maya. This is one of the candidates for the plant consumed by the lotus eaters in Homer's Odyssey.
Because this water lily is a schedule 1 drug, it is illegal in Latvia and Russia as of 2009.
The rootstock is edible raw or cooked. In South Africa it was used in curries (though this practice is nearly gone today).
- Could be employed as an emblem of mature virtues. While the white water lily is an emblem of innocence and purity, the blue water lily has lost its innocence but not its virtue. By its meaning of modesty and moral cleanliness, it speaks to purity by wisdom.
- If employed as a ritual drug, the narcotic stupor could be characterized as the dark mud, and in the trip the ritual "god-self" emerges as the flower from the mud.
- The ritual drug use described above could be employed in other ways, such as stupefying a ritual proxy for telecommunications, dulling the proxy so the speaker on the other end may emerge from their stupefaction. This would incentivize evil magicians to keep a dependent throng of narc-addicts on hand to be able to communicate with their peers without using means that might be magically intercepted (like magic mirrors).
Egyptian White Water Lily (Nymphaea lotus)
|
|
Nyphaea lotus, Southern India. Own work--Midhun Subhash. |
- Arabic: Saluk
- Yoruba: Akapupu
- Chinese: Bai He
- Bengali: Akashmoni, Ketaki, Shaluk, Shapla, Susen
- Hindi: Kamal, Pankaj
- Kannada: Jadikumbala
- Kashmiri: Pamposh
- Malayalam: Kamalam, Nilmanikkam, Padmam, Tamara
- Marathi: Gorephal, Khairvel, Narakai, Okhla, Pokan, Salarpan
- Sanskrit: Árjuna, Komala, Kumuda, Kuvalayanetram, Padma, Pankaj, Pundarika, Pushkara, Rakta-Padma, Salabhanjika, Saluka, Shaluka, Shwetambuj, Udumbara, Utpala
- Sinhala: Manel, Nīlupaduva
- Tamil: Ambal, Kamalam, Tamarai, Tavarai, Tundaiyan, Vellai Alli
- Telugu: Bedda Puvvu, Kamalamu, Koya
- Urdu: Kamal
- Indonesian: Teratai
- Javanese: Koteka, Pangkat
- Khmer: Coy-Am, Kang Sata
- Malay: Teratai
- Tagalog: Ilong-ilang Tubig
- Thai: Bua Luang, Thai Bua
- Persian: Nilofar
- Turkish: Lale Gölü, Nilüfer
- German: Tigerblume, Tigerlotus
- Swedish: Tigerlotus
- Greek: Tigerlotos
- Italian: Nelumbo, Ninfea Del Nilo
- Portuguese: Nenúfar Branco, Ninfeia-Do-egito
- Spanish: Lilia Egipcia, Nenúfar De Egipto
- English: Egyptian White Water Lily, African Queen, Egyptian Lotus, Egyptian Water Lily, Egyptian White Lotus, Tiger Lotus, Water Lily Of The Nile, White Egyptian Lotus, White Egyptian Water Lily, White Nile Lotus, White Lotus
- French: Etoile Blanche, Lotus Blanc D'égypte, Lotus Blanc Du Nil, Lotus D'égypte, Lotus Égyptien, Nuphar, Nymphéa Lotus, Nénuphar D'égypte, Nénuphar Du Nil
- Africa, Central: Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo (Zaïre), Gabon
- Africa, Eastern: Burundi, Ethiopia, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda, Somalia, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe
- Africa, Northern: Egypt, Sudan
- Africa, Southern: Botswana, Eswatini (Swaziland), South Africa (KwaZulu-Natal, Northern Provinces)
- Africa, Western: Benin, Burkina Faso (Burkina), Côte d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast), Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Togo
- Europe, Eastern: Romania
The Latin name lotus has caused some confusion, as that word originally designated a tree, and much later was applied to the plant in Indian texts.
Solar Emblem
To the Egyptians, for whom it is the national flower, the white lotus suggested the sunrise. The plant emerged from anoxic mud before emerging and flowering from the surface of water, just as Re emerged from his nightly journey through the underworld. Because this was an emergence from the primeval slime of Chaos, the white lotus has strong associations with cosmic creation.
Fertility
The creation symbolism of the white lotus is made it an emblem of Egypt's fertility gods and of the upper Nile. This association was also observed in other nearby cultures
Funerary
The white lotus opens at dusk and closes at dawn, in contrast to the blue Egyptian water lily (N. nouchali var. caerulia), which opens at dawn and closes at dusk. This makes the white lotus a funerary emblem, in contrast to the blue Egyptian water lily. Together, they form an emblem of eternal life, as both were found in the burial tomb of Ramses II.
Divine Throne
On occasion this flower was the throne of Horus.
Numerology
The hieroglyph for this plant represents the number 1,000.
|
Chastity
In Greece this plant was a symbol of innocence and modesty.
A frequent feature of temple column architecture, in ancient Egypt sharing the role almost exclusively with the papyrus plant and palm tree.
In Egypt it was an all-pervasive motif in art, and art from 1500 BC provides some of the earliest evidence for ornamental horticulture and landscaping.
The Egyptians extracted perfume from this plant. It was also made into funerary garlands.
In ancient Egypt, a common amulet worn by women in labor was one of the goddess Heqet in the form of a frog seated on a white lotus.
We are not a medical website, do not take health advice from us.
The narcotic effects of this plant are disputed, and the active alkaloids are found in higher concentrations in N. nouchali var. caerulia.
The tubers and rhizomes are edible. Young fruits are an occasional feature of salad.
- Per the numerical value of this plant, its depiction could be employed as part of a numerical cypher.
- As the throne of the Sun god, anything seated in an Egyptian lotus might be elevated to the status of the solar. This is an excellent way to create a hierarchy in magical action, and to set the mundane upward into the world of the sacred.
- Alternate reagent for the Fireball spell in Dungeons & Dragons?
- Placing a frog (living, dried, or carved of wood or stone) in a lotus might make an effective talisman for easing passage (not exclusive to childbirth).
European White Water Lily (Nymphaea alba)
|
|
Nymphaea alba, Lower Silesian Voivodeship, Poland. Own work--Jacek Halicki. |
- Kazakh: Alakol
- Cantonese: Siu Lian
- Chinese: Bai He
- Japanese: Ogatamo, Suiren
- Korean: Paema
- Mandarin: Siu Lian, Yan Lian
- Bengali: Komalkheti, Shapla, Telia Kamal
- Marathi: Piyar Pushp, Sutala
- Nepali: Pokharel
- Sinhala: Manel, Ratmal
- Tamil: Akarnanpu
- Telugu: Kandaka
- Ilocano: Tindok
- Indonesian: Leleka, Teratai
- Khmer: Bai Krab
- Malay: Leli Air, Teratai
- Thai: Thàm Bua
- Vietnamese: Canh Bông
- Hebrew: Halamit Mayim
- Turkish: Nilüfer, Su Nilüferi, Su Zambağı, Zambak
- Czech: Leknín, Leknín Bílý, Vodní Růže
- German: Große Seerose, Seerose, Wasserlilie, Wasserpflanze, Wasserrose, Weiße Seerose
- Hungarian: Candók, Fehér Tündérrózsa, Lótusz, Lótuszvirág
- Polish: Biała Lilia Wodna, Dwiloba, Leknyen, Lilia Wodna
- Slovak: Biela Leknica, Biela Lekno, Biele Lekno, Krásnorod Biely, Vodná Ľalia, Vodná Ruža
- Bosnian: Vodena Ruža
- Croatian: Vodeni Ljiljan
- Estonian: Abja Lelyuwa, Valge Vesiroos, Vesiroos
- Latvian: Balta Lekne, Balta Lelija, Baltā Ūdensroze, Dukātu Roze
- Lithuanian: Balta Lelija, Bružuolė, Puchis
- Romanian: Floare De Nufăr, Lilia Alba, Lilia De Apă, Lumină Albă, Nufăr Alb, Nuferi Albi
- Russian: Vodyanaya Liliya
- Serbian: Bela Vodena Ruža, Dušica, Lokvanj
- Danish: Hvid Nøkkerose, Nøkkerose
- Finnish: Lumme, Lumpeenkukka, Vesiruusu
- Icelandic: Gölrós, Hvít Vatnalilja, Vatnslilja
- Norwegian: Hvit Nøkkerose, Nøkkerose, Tåkblomst, Vannlilje
- Swedish: Duftnäckros, Lökken, Näckros, Vattenlija, Vattenros
- Catalan: Blancall, Nénufar
- Greek: Aponogeton, Ninfeia Lefki
- Italian: Ninfea Bianca, Salvinia
- Maltese: Fyor Tal-Ilma
- Portuguese: Jacinto De Água, Lírio-d'água-branco, Lirio Do Lago, Ninfeia-Branca, Rosa De Água
- Spanish: Lirio De Agua, Nenúfar Blanco
- Breton: Traonon
- Dutch: Drijvende Waterlelie, Grote Waterlelie
- English: European White Water Lily, White Nenuphar, White Water Lily, White Water Rose
- French: Blanc Nénuphar, Fleur De Lótus Blanc, Lotus Blanc, Lotus D'eau, Nénuphar, Nénuphar Blanc, Nymphéa Blanc, Nymphaea Blanche
- Irish: Bród Na Móna, Crannlach, Duileog Bháite, Treanntair
- Welsh: Blodyn Y Dŵr
- Africa, Northern: Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia
- Asia, Northern: Russia (Central European Russia, East European Russia, North European Russia, Northwest European Russia, South European Russia)
- Asia, South: India (West Himalaya)
- Asia, West: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Palestine, Syria, Turkey
- Europe, Central: Austria, Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia, Switzerland
- Europe, Eastern: Belarus, Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine
- Europe, Northern: Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Sweden
- Europe, Southern: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Greece, Italy (Baleares, Corse), Montenegro, North Macedonia, Portugal, Serbia, Spain
- Europe, Western: Belgium, England, France, Ireland, Netherlands, Scotland
Biome: Temperate and Tropical Aquatic
Grows in water 30-150cm (12-59in) deep, prefering large ponds and lakes. Leaves can be up to 30cm (12in) in diameter.
Lecouteux relays a Gypsy folk story. In this story a young woman wishes to flee with her beloved. Her stepmother, a sorceress, punishes her by transforming her into a white water lily by means of a magic ball of yarn. In exchange for eggs and apples, three water spirits (called Nivashi or Nivasi) kissed the water lily and restored her to her original form before luring the stepmother to the river and drowning her.
- The Gypsy folktale echoes flower meaning of "rising above." The heroine of the story is cursed into a vegetative state (or, rather, a literal vegetable). Still, her purity rises from the mud of her circumstance. She makes a deal with the substance of the spirit of the waters (three sprites) to give them the spoils of farm and orchard to collect on the karmic debt of the step-mother's wickedness.
- It is worth noting the evil step-mother's instrument of the curse is a ball of yarn, a domestic binding material (indoors), while the heroine's salvation is bought with farm produce in eggs and apples (outdoors, domestic).
- The evil stepmother seeks to stop the heroine from running away with her beloved, which is a relationship that will produce children. The step-mother is out of sorts with nature in the narrative, denying the heroine her (domesticated) biological yearning to make her a slave in an unproductive (childless) household by means of sorcery (unnatural evil). The heroine is in harmony with nature by following the normal course of her life (love/reproduction) and giving back from the cultivated world of the farm to the natural world that supports it.
- From the above, the white of the flower rising from the mud can be reinterpreted as fire lighting up the opaque, wicked world. Work more with water lilies as an emblem of spiritual fire. This works well with the fire of spiritual purity burning away wicked things (in the manner of a Cleric's Turn Undead ability in Dungeons & Dragons).
Hairy Water Lily (Nymphaea pubescens)
|
|
Nymphaea pubescens, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India. Own work--Shishirdasika. |
- Japanese: Oga
- Assamese: Koi
- Bengali: Bhat-Shapla, Bhetki, Boro Shapla, Kamala, Lal Shaluk, Sadaphul, Shapla, Susen
- Hindi: Kamal, Lal Kamal, Mahakamal
- Konkani: Chengam
- Malayalam: Allipoo, Allipuli, Kamalam, Thumpai, Vellambal
- Marathi: Kanval, Kokā, Kokada, Pokan, Rehuli, Shevanti
- Odia: Dhaibai
- Sanskrit: Aravinda, Chitra, Esthwarum, Indivara, Kamal, Kamala, Komala, Kumuda, Kuvalaya, Padma, Pundarika, Pushkara, Rakta-Kamala, Raktotpala, Saluka, Saugandhika, Shaluka, Supackiya
- Sinhala: Manel, Rathniyamal
- Tamil: Ambal, Ampal, Kamalam, Kolavai, Kumudam, Kuvalai, Padumai, Sivappu Alli, Sivapputhamarai, Thamarai
- Telugu: Kamalamu, Sambal
- Burmese: Innthar, Kahlhla
- Ilocano: Beng-Et
- Javanese: Koteka, Panghat
- Khmer: Chwem Krahom
- Persian: Nilofar
- Italian: Ninfea Pelosa, Ninfea Rossa
- Portuguese: Cabomba-Rosa, Lilia-Rosa, Nenúfar Rosa
- Dutch: Harige Waterlelie
- English: Hairy Water Lily, Indian Red Water Lily, Night Lotus, Pink Water Lily, Red Water Lily, Thai Water Lily, Villate Water Lily, White Night Lotus, Woolly Water Lily
- French: Lotus Rose, Nénuphar De Nuit, Nénuphar Pubescent, Nymphéa Pubescent
- Asia, East: China (South-Central), Taiwan
- Asia, South: Bangladesh, India (Andaman Is., Assam, East Himalaya, Nicobar Is.), Pakistan, Sri Lanka
- Asia, Southeast: Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia (Malaya), Myanmar, Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam
Biome: Temperate and Tropical Aquatic
The leaves of this water lily are heart-shaped and papery, between 15-26 cm across. They have a hairy underside.
- Retained for name and distribution.
Pygmy Water Lily (Nymphaea tetragona)
|
|
Nymphaea tetragona. From the National Institute of Ecology, Korea. |
- Chinese: Běilián, Xiao Ping, Xiao Shuifen, Xīběi Shuǐ Lián
- Japanese: Himerenge, Hina-Ko-Hone, Kannshibai, Kögane-No-Hina, Kokanee, Komagatake-Hisui, Suiren
- Malayalam: Kadal-Manel
- German: Hechtwurzel, Kleine Weiße Seerose, Teichrose, Vier-Ecke-Seerose, Zwerg-Seerose
- Finnish: Aiskukka, Vesi-Kasvu
- Norwegian: Liten Nøkkerose
- Swedish: Dvärgröd Näckros, Dvärgnäckros
- Portuguese: Nenúfar Menor
- Dutch: Dwergnimfkruid, Gele Plomp, Kleine Waterlelie
- English: Pygmy Water Lily, Dwarf Water Lily, Northern Water Lily, Pigmy Water Lily, Pygmaea Water Lily, Small Water Lily, Small White Water Lily, Tetragona Water Lily
- French: Nénuphar Pygmée, Nymphaea Minuscule, Nymphéa Nain, Petit Nénuphar, Petite Nymphéa
- America, North: Canada (Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Northwest Territories, Saskatchewan, Yukon), United States (Alaska, Washington)
- Asia, Central: Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Tibet
- Asia, East: China (North-Central, South-Central, Southeast, Hainan, Inner Mongolia, Manchuria, Xinjiang), Japan, Korea, Taiwan
- Asia, Northern: Russia (Altay, Amur, Buryatiya, Chita, East European Russia, Irkutsk, Kamchatka, Khabarovsk, Krasnoyarsk, Kuril Is., Magadan, North European Russia, Northwest European Russia, Primorye, Sakhalin, Tuva, West Siberia, Yakutskiya)
- Asia, South: Bangladesh, India (Assam, West Himalaya)
- Asia, Southeast: Myanmar, Vietnam
This plant inhabits ponds, lakes, and slow/quiet streams.
In Europe and North America this plant is limited to boreal regions above 50° N latitude.
This is an offering flower in Buddhism.
We are not a medical website, do not take health advice from us.
In folk medicine the rhizomes of this plant are used to treat dysentery, diarrhea, enteritis, fever, bronchial congestion, painful urine, UTIs, and kidney issues.
Antimicrobial
N. tetragona contains geraniin, which has been shown to inhibit bacterial infection in fish, and has been sufficiently tested to suggest that a 50% methanol extract might be used to treat human infections in combination with other antibiotics against resistant diseases such as Salmonella.
- The name "pygmy" doesn't just imply small. Like our suggestion with the "dwarf water lily," the name suggests an affiliation with elemental spirits of earth. Perhaps the seed for a fairytale about an earth sprite falling in love with a water nymph?
* * * * * * *
POND LILY (Nuphar)
Family: Nymphaeaceae
|
|
Nuphar lutea flowering, Korosten, Zhytomyr Oblast, Ukraine. Own work--OlexandrBohdanets. |
- Czech: Kandík
- German: Mummel, Teichrose
- Hungarian: Köbül
- LINGUA IGNOTA: Gischiz
- Polish: Kubilka
- Slovak: Leknín, Stužkovec
- Lithuanian: Geltonasis Vandenlelis, Geltonoji Lūgnė
- Romanian: Lumină Galbenă, Nufăr
- Danish: Gule Åkander
- Finnish: Kelluslehti
- Norwegian: Gul Nøkkerose, Gullkanne
- Swedish: Gul Näckros, Vattenlelie
- Portuguese: Balseirão
- Spanish: Nenúfar
- Dutch: Gele Plomp
- English: Pond Lily, Bonnet Lily, Brandy Bottle, Bullhead Lily, Cow Lily, Spatterdock, Water Lily, Yellow Pond Lily, Yellow Water Lily
- French: Nénuphar, Nuphar
Native to:
- Africa, Northern: Algeria
- America, North: Canada (Alberta, British Columbia, Labrador, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland, Northwest Territories, Nova Scotia, Nunavut, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Saskatchewan, Yukon), Cuba, Mexico, United States (Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming)
- Asia, Central: Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Russia (Altay, West Siberia), Uzbekistan, Xinjiang
- Asia, East: China, Japan, Korea, Russia (Amur, Chita, Irkutsk, Kamchatka, Khabarovsk, Krasnoyarsk, Kuril Islands, Magadan, Primorye, Sakhalin, Yakutiya), Taiwan
- Asia, Northern: Russia
- Asia, Western: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Iran, Lebanon, Palestine, Syria, Turkey
- Europe, Central: Austria, Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia, Switzerland
- Europe, Eastern: Albania, Belarus, Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Ukraine
- Europe, Northern: Denmark, Finland, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden
- Europe, Southern: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Greece, Italy (Sardinia), Montenegro, Portugal, Serbia, Slovenia, Spain
- Europe, Western: Belgium, France, England, Ireland, Scotland
- Oceania: Aleutian Islands
Extinct in:
- Europe, Southern: Italy (Sicily)
Distribution: Northern Hemisphere; Temperate to Subarctic.
Genus of herbaceous perennial aquatic plants found across the Northern Hemisphere. It has branching rhizomes. Nuphar leaves are round with a radial notch, and may be submergent, floating, or emergent. The flowers are pollinated by beetles.
In modern flower language, an emblem of courage and rising above adversity. Per Greenaway, when its flowers are white it also means "purity of heart."
Etymology
The name Nuphar comes from nenuphar, a Latin derivative of the Sanskrit nīlōtpala, the word for the blue lotus flower. This word was filtered to Latin first through the Persian nīlūfar, then through the Arabic nīnūfar. Under the rules of botanical gender, nuphar is feminine.
The name "spatterdock" or "spadderdock" originates in the Americas.
Leatherworking
The tannins in water lilies are used in the process of tanning and dying leather.
We are not a medical website, do not take health advice from us.
Nuphar has a long and complicated history as a food and medicine, being generally less useful than is sister genus Nymphaea for either purpose. Couple that with centuries of confusion about the distinction between numerous now-recognized species, and the whole matter becomes muddled
According to an (archived) article by the Washington State Department of Ecology, this plant was used by Native Americans to stop bleeding. Its roots were used in poultice for cuts, swelling, and other conditions associated with injury.
While these medical properties are in question, there are active alkaloids found in this plant that are subject to medical research: nupharolutine, nuphamine, and nupharidine.
Despite confusion regarding poison status of many of this Genus's species, what has been agreed on historically is that the seeds are edible, whether raw, cooked, or popped like popcorn. The seeds are regarded as both delicious and nutritious. These seeds are, however, time-consuming to harvest. This may be made quicker by rotting the flower in the water for three weeks, but then, well, you have to handle a well-rotted flower to retrieve the seeds.
Some claim the roots are edible, others that they are too bitter, cannot be eaten unsoaked, etc. They're too complicated in treatment to be viable as famine food.
It is said the flowers can be made into tea, but it's not clear to us whether the petals or sepals are the part of the plant referred to for this purpose.
- Retained for name and distribution.
Yellow Pond Lily (Nuphar lutea)
|
|
Nuphar lutea at the Leiemeersen in Oostkamp, Belgium. Own work--Hans Hillewaert. |
- Ainu: Abunawa
- Czech: Dukát, Kaldiršník, Kandík, Konôpka, Leknín Žlutý, Rubinec, Vodní Růže Žlutá, Žlutá Stulík
- German: Dukatenrose, Gelbe Teichrose, Gelbe Teichmummel, Große Mummel, Hennenklötze, Meerblume, Mummel, Pobel, Pompernikkel, Seerose, Serose, Teichrose, Weiße Seerose
- Hungarian: Bandrol, Bondrol, Köbül
- Polish: Dusik, Glenów, Gołąbki, Jeziergwa, Kolokwane, Kubilka, Lilie Wodne, Lilie Wodne Żółte, Plutnica, Ropa
- Slovak: Leknín, Lekno Žlté, Stužkovec Žltý, Vodná Ľalia Žltá
- Swiss German: Gluuggerose
- Croatian: Baka-Lilija Žuta, Dukatac, Kosulja, Ognjica, Rumenica, Vodena Ruža, Žuti Lokvanj
- Estonian: Kupu-Lill, Lulpuur, Muna-Allikad, Munalukk
- Latvian: Blabaužu Lēpe, Boltiks, Bolukki, Dzeltena Lēpe, Dzeltenie Lēpju Ziedi, Jaunatne, Laķauzis, Raudsēklis
- Lithuanian: Dzeltėnasis Plūdis, Geltona Vandens Lelija, Geltonasis Vandenlelis, Geltonasis Vandens Lelija, Jaunoji Plūdė
- Romanian: Lilia De Apă Galbenă, Lumină Galbenă, Nufăr Galben, Nuferi Galbeni
- Russian: Nimfeya
- Serbian: Žuta Lokvanj
- Ukrainian: Suyine Žovtec
- Bosnian: Lokvanj Žuti
- Danish: Åkande, Brandebold, Brandeværsgul, Brandflæg, Gul Åkande, Gule Åkander, Lille Gul Åkande, Pumpekande, Skræppe, Sølvblad
- Finnish: Aapakkaalla, Brandilikka, Kandeeska, Kankainen, Kelluslehti, Keltakurjenmiekka, Keltainen Lumme, Keltainen Ulpukka, Keltamo, Kenkku, Kulta-Alpi, Kuppula, Lumme, Luumekka, Mummeli, Rakko-Alpi, Ruskea Ulpukka, Tahmea Lumme, Ulpukka
- Icelandic: Gula Nykurrósin, Gullkolla, Ljósakollur, Merfljóð
- Norwegian: Dussen, Groblad, Gul Nøkkerose, Gullkanne, Kobbelomme, Nøkkerose, Qvanne, Vann-Nøkkerose
- Swedish: Åkanna, Gul Näckros, Gul Åkanna, Mumbla, Stora Neckrosen, Tranbär, Vattengubbar, Vattenkanna, Vattenlelie, Vaxnos
- Catalan: Herba De Llac
- Italian: Giaggiolo Giallo, Ninfea Gialla
- Portuguese: Balseirão, Cabombinha, Castanha De Água, Lirio Amarelo, Nenúfar Amarelo
- Spanish: Botellón, Lirio Amarillo, Nenúfar Amarillo
- Breton: Beurzholenn, Beurzhwenn, Beurzveilh, Toulbar, Toulbarzh
- Dutch: Elsnoorebloem, Gele Plomp, Ghobbe, Kattenstaart, Klaarwortel, Konvalinkattenstaart, Lekroos, Plompe, Plompen, Pompewortel, Rauwe Pompebloem, Seeroos, Slaapbol, Slaapkop, Söbloem, Sterbloem, Stinkende Plomp, Stinkwortel, Veelbloemige Waterlelie, Vogelkop, Wateraak, Waterkannetje, Waterkers, Waterlelie, Waterplomp, Watertulp, Wentelteefje
- English: Yellow Pond Lily, Beaver Lily, Beaver More, Beaver Root, Bobber, Bonnets, Brandybottle, Breezebottle, Bullhead Lily, Candock, Common Spatterdock, Cop Rose, Cow Cabbage, Cow Collop, Cow Lily, Dog Lily, Ducks, Eelroot, European Yellow Pond Lily, European Yellow Water Lily, Flatterdock, Frog Lily, Froggy Buckle, Globe Lily, Gold Watch, Hog Lily, Holy-Trinity Lily, Horse Lily, Kelp, Large Yellow Pond Lily, Leper Lily, Marsh Collaid, Mulefoot, Mulefoot Bonnet, Mulefoot Lily, Muleshoe, Pond Lily, Pond Poppy, Sea Rose, Sleephead, Spadderdock, Spatterdock, Splatterdock, Threecolor Lily, Toad Lily, Watercan, Water Collard, Yellow Lantern, Yellow Water Lily
- French: Causse, Coeur D'âne, Fleur De Grenouille, Gourde, Grande Nénuphar Jaune, Nénuphar Jaune, Nuphar Jaune, Nymphéa Jaune, Sagittarelle, Tête De Cheval, Tête De Mort
- Frisian: Leperlely, Thutmaat
- Irish: Conroy, Copaíz, Copán, Copóg, Rgeanca
- Luxembourgish: Giele Wetterlilge
- Scottish Gaelic: Cnoic-Chleirich
- Welsh: Alior, Blodau'r Fôr
Distribution: Northern Temperate and Subtropical Europe,
- Africa, Northern: Algeria
- Asia, Central: Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan
- Asia, East: China (Xinjiang)
- Asia, Northern: Russia (Altay, Central European Russia, East European Russia, Irkutsk, Krasnoyarsk, North European Russia, Northwest European Russia, South European Russia, West Siberia, Yakutskiya)
- Asia, West: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Iran, Lebanon, Palestine, Syria, Turkey
- Europe, Central: Austria, Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia, Switzerland
- Europe, Eastern: Belarus, Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine
- Europe, Northern: Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Sweden
- Europe, Southern: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Greece, Italy (Sardegna), Montenegro, North Macedonia, Portugal, Serbia, Spain
- Europe, Western: Belgium, England, France, Ireland, Netherlands, Scotland
Biome: Temperate and subtropical
The wide distribution and long history of human cultivation has led to the extensive number of names and proliferation of folklore attached to this plant.
A common emblem decorating the tops of temple columns in antiquity, and more recently, in the roof bosses of Bristol Cathedral and Westminster Abbey.
- The names frequently refer to opposite ends of the body or things that are mutually exclusive. "Mulefoot Bonnet" refers to a garment for the head and a foot, which are at opposite ends of the body. This sort of contradiction is the stuff of riddles. Work with this.
- The name "yellow lantern" suggests a fantastical environmental use for this plant.
- The name "leper lily" is worth exploring further. Was this used as a poultice? Do its leaves decay in a manner suggestive of leprosy? Is it a malefic that can be used to inflict leprosy?
Dwarf Pond Lily (Nuphar pumila)
|
|
Nuphar pumila, from lilieswatergardens.co.uk. No listed photographer. |
- Czech: Stulík Malý
- German: Kleine Mummel, Kleine Teichrose, Kleiner Teichrose
- Polish: Mały Grążel
- Estonian: Vesiroosi
- Danish: Liden Åkande, Lille Gul Nøkkerose, Små Gul Åkande
- Finnish: Aisukiukka, Aisulpukka, Keltainen Konnanulpukka, Konnanulpukka, Pienet Lumpeet, Pikkulumme, Pikkuulpukka
- Norwegian: Dverggul Nøkkerose, Gul Dvergkanna, Små Gul Nøkkerose
- Swedish: Dvärgnäckros, Dvärgåkanna, Dvärgmummel, Liten Gul Näckros
- Spanish: Nenúfar Menor, Nenúfar Pequeño
- English: Dwarf Pond Lily, Dwarf Water Lily, Dwarf Spatterdock, Least Water Lily, Pygmy Water Lily, Small Yellow Pond Lily, Small Yellow Water Lily, Spatterdock
- French: Petit Nénuphar Jaune
- Asia, Central: Kazakhstan, Mongolia
- Asia, East: China (North-Central, South-Central, Southeast, Inner Mongolia, Manchuria, Xinjiang), Japan, Korea, Taiwan
- Asia, Northern: Russia (Altay, Amur, Central European Russia, Chita, East European Russia, Irkutsk, Kamchatka, Khabarovsk, Krasnoyarsk, Kuril Is., Magadan, North European Russia, Northwest European Russia, Primorye, Sakhalin, South European Russia, West Siberia, Yakutskiya)
- Europe, Central: Austria, Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia, Switzerland
- Europe, Eastern: Belarus, Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine
- Europe, Northern: Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Sweden
- Europe, Southern: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Spain
- Europe, Western: England, France, Scotland
A water plant that is, for all intents and purposes, a smaller version of Nuphar lutea. It favors lakes, ponds, and slow-flowing rivers. It blooms July-August and is pollinated by flies.
Considered endangered in France, Switzerland, and the UK.
We are not a medical website, do not take health advice from us.
Supposedly the root can be consumed to treat digestive issues.
- The "dwarf" in "dwarf water lily" can be interpreted not only as referring to its size, but as a possessive, identifying these water lilies as "set aside" for use by dwarves, making it an excellent avenue for engaging faeries.
* * * * * * *
PRICKLY WATER LILY (Euryale)
Family: Nymphaeaceae
Species: Euryale ferox
|
|
Euryale ferox, in the Berlin Botanical Garden, Berlin, Germany. Own work--Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz. |
- Chinese: Jiǎojiǎo, Qiānshí
- Japanese: Onibasu
- Mandarin: Chiao-Pai, Jian Shi, Jiǎo Guǒ, Jiaobai, Lian Jiao
- Assamese: Bhè, Khorisa
- Bengali: Bhé, Makhana, Makhanna
- Hindi: Kamal Kakdi, Makhana, Makhanna, Toria
- Manipuri: Tharoi, Thangjing
- Nepali: Makhanā
- Burmese: Kyat-Hpo
- Malay: Apel Gila
- Vietnamese: Canh Dậu Gai, Hạt Ấu, Thanh Lịch
- English: Prickly Water Lily, Fox Nut, Gorgon Nut, Gorgon Plant, Gorgun, Sky Lotus, Water Fox Nut
- Asia, East: China, Japan, Korea, Russia (Primorye), Taiwan
- Asia, South: Bangladesh, India (Assam), Myanmar
- Asia, Western: West Himalaya
Southern and Eastern Asia;
- Asia, East: China (North-Central, South-Central, Southeast, Hainan, Inner Mongolia, Manchuria), Japan, Korea, Taiwan
- Asia, Northern: Russia (Primorye)
- Asia, South: Bangladesh, India (Assam, West Himalaya)
- Asia, Southeast: Myanmar
Euryale is a perennial aquatic plant with fully circular leaves. Its flowers have white inner petals and violet outer petals.
Classical Monsters
Named for the gorgon Euryale, of Greek myth.
Purity
As with all water lilies, those with white flowers mean "purity of heart" (per Greenaway).
We are not a medical website, do not take health advice from us.
Used in Ayurvedic medicine and traditional Chinese medicine (our source's source is not specific on this matter).
Cultivated widely for its starchy seeds. Its seeds, called "fox nuts" or "makhana," are edible when dried, and can be eaten raw or cooked. When fried they pop like popcorn. Popped makhana is often eaten with a sprinkling of oil and spices.
It is made into a porridge called kheer.
- Being native to southeast Asia, it is difficult to take advantage of the name "gorgon plant" unless the setting your story takes place in has evolved beyond the age of sail.
- A "fox nut" could be employed in the abstract as the seed of cleverness. As a substitute for the literal, it could be employed as a substitute for fox semen (imitative ritual of a tawdry creation myth?). For fantastically, these might be planted in order to grow foxes from the mud of a pond or river.
- Expand on possible folk-geneaology connecting the trickster fox figure to a gorgon mother?
- Fable about a fox drowning while trying to get these seeds?
- Facilitator of the fox as a liminal figure between the land and bodies of fresh water? Possible psychopomp?
- Purple petals in association with [Philosopher's Stone] re: the purple tincture? Expand as an alchemical emblem.
* * * * * * *
Prestigious Plants
- Plants
- Flowers
- Trees
- Ferns
- Moss and Lichen [Pending]
- Fungi [Pending]
- Cladistic Index
- Herbal Medicine [Pending]
- Resin, Incense, Balsam, and Lacquer [Pending]
Other Lotus
- Celtis (Hackberry)
- Diaspyros lotus (Caucasian Persimmon)
- Lotus (Birdsfoot Trefoil)
- Nelumbo (Lotus)
- Zizyphus (Jujube)
[Img 02 - https://www.flickr.com/photos/194090212@N08/52302404922]
[Img 03 - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Attraction.jpg]
[Img 04 - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Nymphaea_lotus_var._thermalis_(DC.)_Tuzson_leaf.jpg]
[Img 05 - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:South_Vietnam%27s_Water_Lily.JPG]
[Img 06 - https://worldoffloweringplants.com/nymphaea-nouchali-caerulea-blue-egyptian-lotus/]
[Img 07 - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Nymphaea_Lotus.jpg]
[Img 08 - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:2016_Kwiat_grzybieni_bia%C5%82ych_2.jpg]
[Img 09 - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Nymphaea_pubescens_JNTBGRI.jpg]
[Img 10 - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Nymphaea_pubescens_JNTBGRI.jpg]
[Img 12 - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Nuphar_lutea_(habitus).jpg]
[Img 13 - https://www.lilieswatergardens.co.uk/nuphar-pumila-barerooted-p-3337.html]
[Img 14 - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Euryale_ferox_kz06.jpg]
-Greenaway, Kate. Language of Flowers. George Routleage and Sons.
-Higley, Sarah L. (2007). Hildegard of Bingen's Unknown Language: An Edition, Translation, and Discussion. Palgrave Macmillan.
-Lecouteux, Claude, and Jon E. Graham. Dictionary of Gypsy Mythology: Charms, Rites, and Magical Traditions of the Roma. Inner Traditions, 2018.
-Skinner, Charles M. "Myths and Legends of Flowers, Trees, Fruits, and Plants : In All Ages and in All Climes : Skinner, Charles M. (Charles Montgomery), 1852-1907 : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming." Internet Archive, Philadelphia : J.B. Lippincott Co., 1 Jan. 1970, https://archive.org/details/mythslegendsoffl00skin.
( https://www.secretflowerlanguage.com/ )- DEFUNCT
( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Euryale_(plant) )
( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Euryale_ferox )
( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuphar )
( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuphar_lutea )
( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuphar_pumila )
( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nymphaea )
( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nymphaea_alba )
( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nymphaea_lotus )
( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nymphaea_nouchali )
( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nymphaea_nouchali_var._caerulea )
( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nymphaea_pubescens )
( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nymphaea_tetragona )
( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nymphaeaceae )
( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nymphaeales )
No comments:
Post a Comment