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Water Lily
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Water Lily

Nymphaea

Basic Details
Description
Floral Formula
Features
Translations
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Basic Details

NameWater Lily
DescriptionIconic aquatic perennial renowned for its stunning floating flowers and distinctive round lily pads that grace ponds and water gardens worldwide. Grows from thick rhizomes anchored in mud, sending up waxy leaves and showy blooms that float on or rise above the water surface in colors ranging from white, pink, yellow, red, to blue. Hardy varieties survive winter freezes while tropical types prefer warm water, with flowers opening during day or night depending on species, blooming from late spring through fall.
FamilyNymphaeaceae
GenusNymphaea
TribeNymphaeaoideae

Floral Formula & Features

Floral FormulaEBr ⊕ ☿ P∞ A∞ G̅(∞)

Ebracteate (no bracts), Actinomorphic (radially symmetrical), bisexual, numerous free tepals in spiral arrangement (perianth - no clear distinction between sepals and petals), numerous free stamens in spiral, numerous free carpels embedded in receptacle with inferior ovary

Features
  • Name 'Nymphaea' from Greek nymph (water nymph), referring to aquatic habitat. About 50 species worldwide. Hardy types survive freezing if rhizomes below ice. Tropical types need warm water 70°F+ (21°C+). Flowers symbolize purity, enlightenment in many cultures
  • Showy flowers 3-12 inches (8-30 cm) across with 6-50 petals and 20-750 stamens. Colors include white, pink, yellow, red, blue, peach. Many fragrant. Open during day (most hardy types) or night (some tropicals). Each flower blooms 3-4 days, opening and closing daily
  • Aquatic perennial growing from thick fleshy rhizomes or tubers anchored in mud. Round waxy lily pads 4-12 inches (10-30 cm) across float on surface with radial notch. Leaves contain air spaces for buoyancy. Summer dormant in some species
  • Flowers rise 2-12 inches (5-30 cm) above water depending on species. Spread 3-12 feet (90-360 cm) across pond surface. Lifespan 20+ years. Propagated by division of rhizomes or seeds. Plant depth 6-36 inches (15-90 cm) depending on variety
  • Native to temperate and tropical regions worldwide on all continents except Antarctica. Found in still or slow-moving freshwater - ponds, lakes, slow streams. Hardy types native to North America, Europe, Asia. Tropical types from Africa, Asia, Australia
  • Requires full sun (6+ hours) for best flowering. Needs still or slow-moving water. Hardy types zones 3-11, tropical types zones 9-11 (or grown as annuals). Plant in heavy loam soil or aquatic compost. Fertilize monthly during growing season with aquatic tablets
  • Provides shade reducing water temperature and algae growth. Oxygenates water. Shelter for fish, frogs, insects. Flowers attract bees, butterflies. Seeds eaten by waterfowl. Roots/rhizomes edible in some species (lotus). Used in water gardens, koi ponds
  • Remove dead leaves and spent flowers. Divide crowded plants every 3-4 years. Hardy types: cut back in fall, leave rhizomes in pond over winter. Tropical types: bring indoors or treat as annuals in cold climates. Control aphids with water spray. Deer resistant

Names in Different Languages

Latin / ScientificNymphaea
English (Alternate)Lotus, Padma, Pond Lily, Spatterdock, Nymphaea, Blue Lotus, Fragrant Water Lily, Alligator Bonnet
Hindiनीलकमल (Neelkamal), जल कुमुदिनी (Jal Kumudini), कुमुद (Kumud)
Tamilஆம்பல் (Aambal), அல்லி (Alli), நெய்தல் (Neithal), நீராம்பல் (Neeraambal)
Telugu కలువ పువ్వు (kaluvapuvvu), కలువ (kaluvā), సారసము (sārasamu)
Malayalamആമ്പൽ (Ambal), വെള്ളാമ്പൽ (Vellambal), കുിതനം (Kumudam)
Kannadaನೈದಿಲೆ (Naidile), ಕಲವೆ (Kalave), ಕೋಮಳೆ (Kōmaḷe), ನೈದಿಲೆ ಹೂವು (Naidile hoovu)
Sanskritउत्पल (Utpala), कुमुद (Kumuda), पद्म (Padma), अम्बुज (Ambuja), नीरज (Nīraja)
Bengaliশাপলা (Shapla), শালুক (Shaluk), জলপদ্ম (Jolpoddo)
Frenchnénuphar, nénufar
Russianкувшинка (kuvshinka), водяная лилия (vodyanaya liliya)
Spanishnenúfar, ninfea, lirio acuático
GermanSeerose

What is Floral Formula?

A floral formula is a symbolic representation of a flower's structure using letters, numbers, and special symbols. It provides a concise way to describe the arrangement and number of floral parts.

Example Formula
% K(6) C1+2+(2) A(9) G2

This formula describes the flower's symmetry, sepals, petals, stamens, and carpels in a standardized format.

Formula Sequence

  • Bract: Br or Ebr
  • Bracteole: Brl or Ebrl
  • Symmetry: % (Radial) or ⊕ (Bilateral)
  • Sex: ♀ (Female), ♂ (Male), or ⚥ (Bisexual)
  • Calyx/Sepal: K<number> (Free or Fused)
  • Corolla/Petal: C<number> (Free or Fused)
  • Androecium: A<number> (Free or Fused)
  • Gynaecium: G<number> (Superior or Inferior Ovary)

Symbol Meanings

  • Numbers: Indicate quantity of parts
  • Parentheses (): Parts are fused together
  • Plus (+): Parts in different whorls
  • Underline: Superior ovary position
  • Overline: Inferior ovary position
  • ∞: Numerous parts (too many to count)

Understanding floral formulas helps botanists quickly identify and classify flowers based on their structural characteristics.