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:
Illinois Wildflowers
The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
CalPhotos
Plants for a Future, a resource and information centre for edible and otherwise useful plants
The Washington State Department of Ecology
Wildflowers of the United States
EFloras
5/10/2023 · James and Lavina Kemp Preserve, Berry Woods Preserve, Georgetown, Maine
7/29/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Nashoba Hospital, Ayer, Massachusetts
8/8/2010 · Jeff Smith Trail, Beaver Brook Association Conservation Lands, Rte. 130, Hollis, New Hampshire
8/7/2016 · Jeff Smith Trail, Jewett St., Pepperell, Massachusetts
8/2/2010 · Beaver Brook Association Conservation Lands, Rte. 130, Hollis, New Hampshire
6/20/2016 · Wildlife Pond Trail, Beaver Brook Conservation Area, Hollis, New Hampshire
Nymphaea odorata description by Thomas H. Kent, last updated 25 May 2020.
© FloraFinder.org. All rights reserved.
7/8/2016 · Dunstable Rural Land Trust, Dunstable, Massachusetts
7/11/2012 · Jeff Smith Trail, Pepperell, Massachusetts
6/25/2015 · Far and Near
8/21/2013 · Estuary Trail, Shipley Swamp, Westford, Massachusetts
6/20/2016 · Wildlife Pond Trail, Beaver Brook Conservation Area, Hollis, New Hampshire
[Blue flowers are Pickerelweed (Pontederia cordata) ] · 7/18/2010 · Great Brook Farm State Park, Carlisle, Massachusetts ID is uncertain
7/8/2016 · Dunstable Rural Land Trust, Dunstable, Massachusetts
8/28/2021 · Center Pond Preserve, Phippsburg, Maine · By Priscilla Seimer
7/18/2010 · Great Brook Farm State Park, Carlisle, Massachusetts ID is uncertain
6/20/2016 · Wildlife Pond Trail, Beaver Brook Conservation Area, Hollis, New Hampshire
6/20/2016 · Wildlife Pond Trail, Beaver Brook Conservation Area, Hollis, New Hampshire
7/26/2009 · By Jacquelyn Boyt
Range:
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