British Columbia Outdoor Wilderness Guide  |
- Yellow
Water Lily
(Nuphar polysepalem)
a.k.a. Yellow Pond Lily, Spatterdock, Cow-lily
The
Yellow Water Lily is an aquatic perennial that
grows from scaly-looking rhizomes that can grow
up to 5 metres long; thick stems support the floating
leaves and flowers
- LEAVES:
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floating (or partially submerged)
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look like arrowheads or hearts; 10-45 cm.
long
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rubbery
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on thick, round stalks that can be up to 2
metres in length
- FLOWERS:
- -
Yellow Water Lily flowers are large (up to
10 cm. across)
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floating
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glossy wax-like and yellow (can be tinged
with red or green)
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8-17 yellow sepals arranged in a cup-shape
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10-20 smaller yellow or greenish petals obscured
by the red-brown stamens
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flower centre is a large 'knob-like' stigma
- FRUIT:
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egg shaped capsules with many seeds
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ribbed and tough
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the seeds are released in a watery glob when
the fruit splits
- HABITAT:
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Yellow Water Lilies grow in low to mid elevations
- -
Yellow Water Lilies are found in shallow lakes
and ponds or slow streams
- -
the Yellow Water Lily is widespread throughout
BC.
- FASCINATING
FACTS:
- -
dried sliced or powered rhizomes fro the Yellow
Water Lily had many traditional medicinal
uses; a poultice of sliced rhizomes was often
applied to skin ulcers, broken bones or aching
joints; the powder or slices were eaten sprinkled
on food
- -
a tea from the rhizomes was drunk - for tuberculosis,
heart disease, swellings, asthma, chest pains
and gonorrhea; the tea was also used as a
blood tonic, general tonic or appetite stimulant
- -
the leaves were heated and used as a poultice
for chest pains
- -
the Yellow Water Lily plant was mixed into
a concoction for applying to cuts, bites and
infections
- -
seeds of Yellow Water Lilies are edible
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