Nymphaea odorata (Fragrant Water Lily)

Nymphaea odorata

Nymphaea odorata Aiton

Fragrant Water Lily, Beaver Root, American White Waterlily

Kingdom	Plantae	Plants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae
Subkingdom	Tracheobionta	Vascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients
Division	Magnoliophyta	Flowering plants, also known as angiosperms
Class	Magnoliopsida	Dicotyledons—plants with two initial seed leaves
Subclass	Magnoliidae	Includes magnolias, nutmeg, bay laurel, cinnamon, avocado, black pepper, and many others
Order	Nymphaeales	Water lilies and other aquatic plants
Family	Nymphaeaceae	Water lily family
Genus	Nymphaea	From the Greek Νυμφαία, possibly related to Νύμφη, meaning “nymph”
Species	odorata	Means “scented”

About plant names...

Fragrant water lily is native to North and Central America. Beautiful in the wild, and coveted as an ornamental, it is nevertheless considered an invasive in some habitats. Plants spread slowly, but they eventually commandeer large patches of water less than eight feet deep at the expense of other plants.

Identification: Water lilies are instantly recognizable by their 4-12" (10-30 cm), round, flat leaves, often turned up slightly at the edges in order to float. If they are flowering, as they do during the first half of the day, you’ll see their large, very attractive, white (sometimes pink), fragrant blossoms. These iconic blossoms are 5-9" (12-22 cm) around, with 25 or more white petals and yellow centers made up of as many as 70 stamens.

Edibility: Young unrolling leaves and unopened flower buds may be boiled for 5-10 minutes and served buttered.

Online References:

Nymphaea odorata at Illinois Wildflowers

Nymphaea odorata at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

Nymphaea odorata on CalPhotos

Nymphaea odorata at the University of Wisconsin's Robert W. Freckmann Herbarium

Nymphaea odorata on Plants for a Future, a resource and information centre for edible and otherwise useful plants

Nymphaea odorata at the Washington State Department of Ecology

Nymphaea odorata on Wildflowers of the United States

Nymphaea odorata on eFloras

7/29/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Nashoba Hospital, Ayer, MA
≈ 17 × 15" (42 × 39 cm)

8/8/2010 · Jeff Smith Trail, Beaver Brook Association Conservation Lands, Rte. 130, Hollis, NH
≈ 22 × 15" (56 × 37 cm)

8/2/2010 · Beaver Brook Association Conservation Lands, Rte. 130, Hollis, NH
≈ 21 × 21" (53 × 52 cm)

6/20/2016 · Wildlife Pond Trail, Beaver Brook Conservation Area, Hollis, NH
≈ 10 × 10" (26 × 24 cm)

7/8/2016 · Dunstable Rural Land Trust, Dunstable, MA

7/11/2012 · Jeff Smith Trail, Pepperell, MA
≈ 3½ × 2½' (1.2 × 0.8 m)

Nymphaea odorata description by Thomas H. Kent, last updated 25 May 2020.

8/21/2013 · Estuary Trail, Shipley Swamp, Westford, MA
≈ 4 × 2½' (1.2 × 0.8 m)

6/20/2016 · Wildlife Pond Trail, Beaver Brook Conservation Area, Hollis, NH
≈ 31 × 21" (78 × 52 cm)

[Blue flowers are Pickerelweed (Pontederia cordata)] · 7/18/2010 · Great Brook Farm State Park, Carlisle, MA ID is uncertain

7/8/2016 · Dunstable Rural Land Trust, Dunstable, MA

7/18/2010 · Great Brook Farm State Park, Carlisle, MA ID is uncertain

6/20/2016 · Wildlife Pond Trail, Beaver Brook Conservation Area, Hollis, NH
≈ 31 × 21" (78 × 52 cm)

6/20/2016 · Wildlife Pond Trail, Beaver Brook Conservation Area, Hollis, NH

7/26/2009 · By Jacquelyn Boyt

Range:

About this map...