Water lily

Scientific

Nymphaea contains ~60 species globally. The family Nymphaeaceae is one of the most ancient angiosperm (flowering plant) lineages — the family appears very early in the angiosperm fossil record and is part of the small grade of basal flowering plants whose study has been important to understanding flower evolution.

Water lilies should not be confused with the unrelated [[sacred-lotus]] ([[sacred-lotus|Nelumbo nucifera]]) — though both are aquatic, both have large floating leaves and showy flowers, and both have been called “lotus” in various traditions. The lily pads of Nymphaea sit on the water surface; the lotus leaves of Nelumbo are typically held above the water on long stalks.

The Amazonian Victoria amazonica (a related genus in the same family) produces leaves up to 3m in diameter — sturdy enough to support a small child.

Cultural

The blue lotus (Nymphaea caerulea) was one of the most-depicted plants in ancient Egyptian religious art. The flower opens at dawn and closes at dusk, becoming a solar-rebirth symbol; pharaonic regalia, temple decoration, and Book of the Dead vignettes feature blue lotus iconography throughout. The plant also contains mild psychoactive compounds (aporphine alkaloids) and was likely used in ritual contexts.

The European white water lily (Nymphaea alba) is the species of central European folklore — naiad and water-spirit traditions associate the plant with the female aquatic divine. Monet’s Nymphéas series — over 250 paintings created between 1896 and his death in 1926 — made the water-lily pond at Giverny into one of the most-painted gardens in art history.

See also

Auto-generated from this entry’s typed relations: frontmatter, grouped by relation type so the editorial signal isn’t flattened.

• Shares approach with: [[papyrus]] · [[frankincense]] · [[myrrh]]
• Parallels: [[abundance]]
• Counterpart to: [[sacred-lotus]]
• Member of: [[plants]]

Sources

• Wikipedia — Nymphaea

A plant entry in the 0mn1.one [[directory]].