White water lily: description. White water lily photo - description of white water lily
The water lily, or nymphea, which is popularly called water lily, belongs to a genus of aquatic plants that is part of the Water Lily family. There are about 40 species, most of which are found in regions with temperate and tropical climates, in river backwaters and ponds with slow flows. It grows and develops in water, blooming with exquisite delicate buds on the surface. Today it is quite a popular decoration for artificial reservoirs and ponds in garden design. Along with heat-loving representatives, many winter-hardy varieties have appeared, which makes it possible to grow them in mid-latitudes.
Description
Nymphea refers to dicotyledonous herbaceous perennials with a highly developed, powerful rhizome of creeping type, horizontal development. Its length can reach several meters with a diameter of 5–6 cm. It grows in a pond, fixing itself on the muddy bottom with the help of cord-like formations on the lower part of the root. From multiple underwater buds, leaves and buds grow and emerge, which are attached to worm-shaped petioles and peduncles.
The beginning of flowering occurs in May - June, with activation in mid-summer. The open buds of water lilies remain on the surface of the water until frost. The leaves are large, round in shape, up to 40 cm in diameter. They have a rich green color and a leathery glossy texture.
The plant tends to close its petals when it rains and at night. When open, the bud lasts up to five days, then the peduncle pulls the faded ovary to the bottom. There the fruit ripens with seeds that look like fish eggs.
In the natural environment, water lilies are found everywhere in Ukraine, with the exception of Crimea. No less widespread is observed in Azerbaijan, Belarus, the Urals and the North Caucasus. Due to the fact that the plant is on the verge of extinction, it is listed in the Red Book of Russia.
Types and varieties
In nature, two types of water lilies are most often found:
- white nymph (Nymphaea candida);
- white (Nymphaea alba).
Their flowers are extremely decorative, boiling white in color, reaching 15–20 cm in diameter. The multiple contrasting yellow stamens and pistils in the center look no less impressive. There are varietal specimens of other colors: red, pink, lilac.
All the variety of varieties of water lilies are conventionally divided into categories:
- Dwarf - with flowers with a diameter of no more than 10 cm. The entire plant occupies an area of 35–60 cm around the perimeter of the water surface. Planting depth - 10–18 cm.
- Small - flowers with a diameter of 10-15 cm, plant length - up to 120 cm. Recommended planting depth - 18-50 cm.
- Medium - buds about 20 cm at total area plants 120–150 cm. Suitable for reservoirs with a depth of 35–45 centimeters.
- Large ones - planted to a depth of 50–70 cm. When open, the buds have a diameter of 19–25 cm, and on the surface they occupy an area of 1.2–1.5 m.
To get beautiful appearance pond, the water surface should be filled with vegetation to a maximum of half.
Decorative nymphs are divided into heat-loving and cold-resistant. It is preferable for the first to provide an aqueous environment with a temperature of at least +25 ° C, so they are not suitable for outdoor cultivation. Resistant varieties get along well in open-air ponds.
The most common winter-hardy species groups of water lilies are presented in the table:
| Name | Description | Visual photo |
| Chamaenymphaea | A group of water lilies, including three species, including the small water lily (tetrahedral). This representative comes from North America and Japan. It prefers warmth and is difficult to propagate vegetatively, due to the many lateral shoots on the rhizome. The buds open during the day and close at night. They are predominantly white in color, sometimes with a pink tint. The plant is valued for its compact flowers, which are optimal for decorating small ponds. |  |
| Section Eucastalia - consists of frost-resistant species | Red nymphea is a herbaceous frost-resistant representative of the Swedish selection. Grows well in cool, fresh water, but prefers plenty of light |  |
| White water lily - spectacularly blooms with snow-white lush flowers with a yellow core. Root system forms slowly, horizontally |  |
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| Pure white nymphea - differs from other water lilies in having less double flowers and small size. For this reason it is rarely used for decorative purposes. |  |
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| The fragrant water lily is the most popular type. The flowers are fragrant, large, of various colors. Strong lateral shoots are formed on the rhizome. Almost all subspecies are able to withstand temperatures down to -30 °C |  |
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| Cone-shaped nymph - endowed with a strong, narrow rhizome with lateral formations like cones. Thanks to them, the plant can easily be propagated by division. Grows naturally in Northern and South America. Used to obtain new hybrid forms |  |
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| Section Xanthantha | Mexican water lily- characterized by a bright yellow or orange flower color. The species itself is not winter-hardy, but multiple hybrids can easily tolerate cold |  |
For growing in medium climatic zone The varieties of water lilies described in the table are suitable:
| Name | Description | Photo |
| Black princess | A relatively new hybrid with high decorative properties. Valued for its stable immunity to diseases and pests. Suitable for breeding in small and medium-sized reservoirs. Flowers (15–18 cm in diameter) are a rich burgundy color. There are up to 30–40 petals in one bud. At the beginning of flowering, the leaves are dark brown, then gradually turn green. Round in shape, about 20–25 cm in diameter. Planting depth - 45–80 cm |  |
| Mayla | A variety of pink water lilies with a star-shaped configuration. The petals are oval-pointed, bristling to the sides. Abundant flowering takes place in August. Bud diameter - 17–19 cm. Rhizome of slow development |  |
| Wanvisa | It is notable for its unusual coloring: yellow longitudinal stripes contrast against the red background of the petals. The hybrid is easy to care for. The leaves are large, glossy, green, with a marbled pattern on the surface. Planted to a depth of 60–110 cm |  |
| Snowflake | The flowers resemble asters and consist of numerous strap-shaped white petals. There are about 50 of them in one bud. Flowering time falls in July - August. The variety is frost-resistant and tenacious. Planting depth - 50–70 centimeters |  |
| Violicious | A hybrid that stands out with bright purple inflorescences and a rich orange center. Sometimes there are dark blue flowers. Despite its exotic appearance, it withstands temperatures down to -30 °C. Winters well under a crust of ice, at depth. Flowers open in July |  |
| Denver | A hybrid with small yellow flowers, up to 10 cm in diameter. During flowering, the petals turn white. Sometimes the flowers seem to float above the water, lifted by the peduncles. Recommended planting depth - 30–60 cm |  |
Landing
It will be quite difficult to grow a water lily yourself from seeds, so it is recommended to purchase an already grown plant in a pot. After purchase it is transplanted into another container small size so that no difficulties arise during further relocation to the pond. Select a wide but shallow container, since the rhizome of the water lily develops in a horizontal plane. If there is constriction, the roots will be small, and therefore the flowers will not be able to grow to their optimal size.
The soil for water lilies is clay and turf. It should retain moisture and not be washed away by water. Additionally, add fertilizers: vermicompost and humus. The ratio of these components should not exceed 30% of the total volume.
The landing technology is as follows:
- Pour the substrate into the container, make a small hole in the center and place the lily rhizome along with the remains of the old soil. The growth point is left open.
- After digging, they are covered with a layer of sand 4–6 cm thick. This technique minimizes soil erosion when sinking to the bottom of the pond.
- It is advisable to additionally place small stones on top so that the fish cannot reach the root and pull it out.
It is advisable to replant every 2–3 years - it depends on the variety. The entire growing season is suitable for this procedure - from May to September. In large artificial ponds, it is permissible to plant water lilies immediately on the bottom, but more often they are first planted in containers and then submerged.
The water lily is propagated after flowering by dividing the rhizome. Shoots and petioles are easier to untangle in water, otherwise they can be damaged when taken out. The root is a bulb with many shoots. It is divided into parts using any garden tool and planted separately, according to standard technology, with the addition of fertilizers and clay. Compact with sand and stones.
In the fall, after the water lilies have faded, preparations for frost begin. Some species feel quite comfortable under the ice. It is necessary to select the deepest point in the pond and place the container with the plant there. It is important that a distance of 1 meter is maintained from the surface of the water to the kidneys. Some gardeners bring containers into the house for storage. Optimal temperature regime for storing water lilies indoors in winter - not lower than +10 °C.
White water lily- perennial aquatic plant. It is sometimes also called water lily. The water lily is an amazing aquatic plant; it attracts with its unique beauty.
Grows in reservoirs with standing and slowly flowing water up to 2 m deep. Dark green leaves floating on the surface of the water, in the shape of a large heart, are decorated with a snow-white, mesmerizing flower, which exudes a clearly noticeable, delicate aroma. The water lily flower consists of many outer and inner snow-white petals. The outer petals are slightly larger in size than their inner counterparts. In the middle of the flower there is a stigma, which is orange color circle with outgoing in different sides rays.
The white water lily also has underwater leaves, which are very different from the above-water ones in their structure and shape. These are filmy leaves that are rolled into a tube.
All leaves and flowers are attached to an elastic stem that stretches from the underwater root to the surface of the water. This stem is so strong that it does not allow even a strong wind to tear the water lily from its place.
The water lily reproduces by seeds that ripen under water and by root branching. After ripening, the seeds float to the surface, accumulating next to each other, vaguely reminiscent of fish eggs.
Rivers, lakes and ponds are the permanent habitat of this beautiful flower, but it is also worth remembering that the white water lily does not like fast currents, so it can only be found in “quiet” water.
Unfortunately, the number of fairy nymphs is becoming less and less, and this is due to pollution and drying out of reservoirs. In this regard, the white water lily in many countries is listed in the Red Book as an endangered species and is protected by law.
The water lily - a charming and delicate white water lily - is nothing other than the famous fairy-tale overpowering grass. Rumor ascribes magical properties to it. She was endowed with the properties of protecting people, she could give strength to overcome the enemy, protect them from troubles and misfortunes, but she could also destroy the one who sought her with unclean thoughts.
The Slavs believed that the water lily was able to protect people from various troubles while traveling. Going on a long journey, people sewed water lily leaves and flowers into small amulet bags, carried them with them as an amulet and firmly believed that this would bring them good luck and protect them from misfortunes. 
There was also a kind of spell for this occasion: “I’m going to open field, and in the open field the grass grows. I didn’t give birth to you, I didn’t water you. Mother earth gave birth to you, bare-haired girls and women who rolled cigarettes watered you. Overcome the grass! Overcome you evil people: they wouldn’t think badly of me, they wouldn’t think anything bad; drive away the sneaky sorcerer.
Overcome the grass! Overcome high mountains, low valleys, blue lakes, steep banks, dark forests, stumps and logs. I’ll hide you, you overpowering grass, next to your zealous heart along the entire path and along the entire path!”
Common names: grass grass or white grass, balabolka, floating fish, mermaid flower or mermaid color, water poppy or water poppy, bliskalka, beaver, white hens, water companion, water color, white water lily.
The water lily is beautiful! This is one of the most beautiful plants. Since ancient times, the white water lily has been considered a symbol of beauty, purity and mercy. These large flowers with a golden mean grow in quiet reservoirs of our rivers and lakes. The water lily nymph is also called the “child of the sun”: it beautiful flowers open in the morning and close at dusk. 
"The blue lotus, or blue water lily (lat. Nymphaea caerulea) is an aquatic plant of the water lily family, a species of the genus Water Lily growing in East Africa (from the Nile Valley to the extreme south of the continent), India and Thailand."
There are many legends about the origin of this wonderful plant. They say that it got its name in honor of the nymphs that live, like these plants, in water. As is known from Greek mythology, nymphs are deities of nature: forests, mountains, lakes, rivers and seas. It's no surprise that the flowers named after them are beautiful. In Slavic fairy tales, the idea of water lilies is associated with the mysterious image of a mermaid. 
Scandinavian legends say that each water lily has its own friend - an elf, who is born with it and dies with it. By folk beliefs, nymphs live in its flowers and leaves along with little elves. Leaves and flowers serve as boats for these little elves.
The corollas of flowers serve as both a home and a bell for the elves.
During the day, the elves sleep in the depths of the flower, and at night they swing the pestle and ring the bell, calling their brothers to a quiet conversation. Some of them sit in a circle on a leaf, dangling their legs in the water, while others prefer to talk, swaying in the corollas of water lilies. 
When they get together, they sit in the capsules and row, row with oars, and the capsules then serve as boats or boats for them. The elves' conversations take place at a late hour, when everything on the lake has calmed down and fallen into deep sleep. 
Lake elves live in underwater crystal palaces built from shells. Pearls, yachts, silver and corals sparkle around the palaces. Emerald streams roll along the bottom of the lake, strewn with multi-colored pebbles, and waterfalls cascade onto the roofs of the palaces. The sun shines through the water into these dwellings, and the moon and stars call the elves to the shore. 
Switzerland, Goldfish and Lily
The ancient Greek legend about the water lily tells how a beautiful white nymph, inflamed with love for Hercules and did not receive a response from him, turned into a white water lily out of grief and love for him.
IN Ancient Greece the flower was considered a symbol of beauty and eloquence. Young girls wove garlands from them, decorated their heads and tunics with them; they even wove a wreath of water lilies for beautiful Elena on the day of her wedding with King Menelaus and decorated the entrance to their bedroom with a wreath. 
The legend of the North American Indians says that the water lily appeared during the collision of the Polar and Evening Stars, from their sparks. These two stars argued among themselves who would get the arrow that the great Indian chief shot into the sky and collided in flight. 
According to North German belief, water lilies grew on the site of two dead mermaids who were killed by an evil nix (a mermaid in ancient German mythology) who lived in the lake.
In Germany they said that once a little mermaid fell in love with a knight, but he did not reciprocate her feelings. Out of grief, the nymph turned into a water lily. 
"Karelian Nymphea"
According to another legend, water lilies are the children of the beautiful countess, carried away into the mud by the king of the swamp. The grief-stricken countess went to the shore of the swamp every day. One day she saw a wonderful white flower, whose petals resembled her daughter's complexion, and whose stamens resembled her golden hair. 
There is a belief that nymphs (mermaids) take refuge in the flowers and leaves of water lilies, and at midnight they begin to dance in circles and carry away people passing by the lake. If someone managed to somehow escape from them, then grief would dry him up. 
In the distant past, the entire coastal strip of Italy, from Pisa to Naples, was occupied by swamps. There the legend of the beautiful Melinda and the swamp king was born. The legend is that the water lilies are the children of the beautiful blond Countess Melinda and the ugly, scary swamp king who kidnapped her. Once upon a time, there lived a beautiful Melinda. 
on Yandex.Photos
And the swamp king was watching her all the time. The king's eyes twinkled as he looked at beautiful girl, and although he was scary as hell, he nevertheless became Melinda’s husband, and the yellow water lily, the closest relative of the white water lily, which has long personified betrayal and deceit, helped him get the beauty.
While walking with her friends near a swampy lake, Melinda admired the golden floating flowers, reached for one of them, stepped on a coastal stump in which the lord of the bog was hiding, and he carried the girl to the bottom. 
""scarlet flower"-2"
At the site of her death, snow-white flowers with a yellow core emerged. So, after the deceiving water lilies, water lilies appeared, meaning in the ancient language of flowers: “You must never deceive me.” 
Water lilies, Nikitsky Botanical Garden, Crimea
The egg pod blooms from late May to August. At this time, next to the floating leaves you can see large yellow, almost spherical flowers sticking high on thick stalks. 
The egg capsule has long been considered folk medicine healing plant. Both the leaves and the thick rhizome lying on the bottom, up to 15 centimeters in length, and large, good-smelling flowers, reaching 5 centimeters in diameter, were used. 
They also tore off the egg capsule in order to decorate the home with flowers. And in vain: the flowers of the egg capsule, like the white lily, do not stand in vases. 
Kubyshka
The white water lily is protected by law, since there are very few of them left in the reservoirs of rivers and lakes. The water lily blooms for a long time, from late May to August. White lily flowers open in the early morning and close in the late evening. 
"There are nymphs on our lake. Rumor has it that some enthusiast dived from a boat and landed... Praise be to him. A little far from the shore... But away from vandals..)))"
If you come to the lake early in the morning, you can watch these flowers emerge from the water. This is an unforgettable sight! Something begins to rise from the depths of the lake, and a large bud appears on the surface.
In a matter of minutes it turns into a beautiful white flower. There is another one nearby, a little further away... The amazing thing is that the buds emerge just before sunrise, and open as soon as the sun's rays touch the surface of the water. 
You won't find them in the same position all day. From morning to evening, flowering water lilies follow the movement of the sun, turning their floating head towards its rays. At noon they open all their petals. Then their flowers begin to gradually close and the flower looks like an unopened bud. 
And here something interesting happens: the closed water lily flowers begin to slowly sink into the water. These lashes-stems, shortening, draw the flowers along with them. Water lilies love the sun very much, a little clouds will come and they will slowly begin to close. 
The water lily leaf is buoyant, like a raft, simple in appearance, heart-shaped and thick, like a cake; There are air cavities inside it, which is why it does not sink. 
There is several times more air in it to support its own weight, the excess of which is necessary for unforeseen accidents: if, say, a bird or a frog lands, the leaf must hold them. 
White water lily
Medicinal properties and uses
White water lily|Nymphaea alba|genus Water lilies|family Water lilies
● Medicinal plant White water lily is also popularly called overpowering grass, water or white lily and white water lily (not to be confused with yellow water lily). Dear friends and blog readers " Traditional medicine recipes»!
On this page I want to tell you how white water lily is useful in folk medicine. This medicinal herb is one of the favorite plants of the peoples of Russia and the former Soviet Union.
The white water lily has rightfully won such love because of many useful properties, thanks to which healers and herbalists, healers and sorcerers treat many diseases.
● An infusion of flowers in Russian villages is used as a diaphoretic antipyretic and to quench thirst in patients with fever. In addition, village peasants use this infusion as a sleeping pill and sedative for.
Active substances rhizomes of white water lily eliminate inflammatory manifestations on. Since ancient times, people have been treating it by applying crushed roots of the plant to the lower back, after which a burning sensation began and the pain subsided.
● To relieve pain, traditional medicine recommends applying pieces of fresh white water lily root to the cheek opposite the sore tooth, and the infusion of the flowers has an analgesic effect in the form of baths; A long-term decoction (up to 2 hours) removes freckles, skin rashes and tanning.
Traditional medicine recipes
● Boil three tablespoons of dry or fresh plant flowers with boiling water several times, wrap in gauze and apply to the sore spot to relieve pain.
● Infuse three tablespoons of crushed leaves in half a liter of boiling water for half an hour. Use externally as a compress to relieve inflammatory processes on the skin.
● Let two tablespoons steep in 500 ml of boiling water for twenty minutes, then filter through two layers of gauze. This cosmetic product is used to get rid of freckles, tanning and acne.
● Pass several roots of the white water lily through a meat grinder and apply as a compress to the painful areas of the lower back with radiculitis.
● Infuse two tablespoons of flower petals in half a liter of boiling water for 20 minutes, then strain. We take a tablespoon of infusion 3-4 times a day after meals as a sleeping pill and sedative.
● Treatment of neuroses:
- 250 ml of boiling water, 5 g of dried flowers, leave for 20 minutes. Two to three cups a day;
- Boil 5 g of dried rhizome in a glass of boiling water for 15 minutes. 2-3 cups per day.
● Treatment of solar erythema, , and scratches on the skin:
— moisten a cloth (gauze) in the decoction described above and apply to the problem area of the skin 3 to 6 times a day.
Thank you, friend, for reading the article to the end. God bless you with good health!
The aquatic plant water lily is very popular among owners of artificial reservoirs in personal plot. A variety of species for growing in a pond allow you to create unusual pictures of multi-colored buds located on magnificent flat leaves. They swim freely on the water surface of the reservoir. This creates unusual look. The water lily plant can successfully winter directly in the muddy soil of the bottom of the reservoir. Over the summer, it accumulates a large amount of starchy and sugary substances in its tubers. This allows it to feed the sprouts and primordia of future stems. This material suggests detailed description water lily plants, which will allow you to choose suitable look for your pond. The basics of agricultural technology of this crop are also described.
White water lily plant or nymphea
The water lily nymph can be called the queen of the water kingdom without embellishment - you just have to look at the smooth large leaves and huge flowers. This magnificent plant has an interesting fate, because almost all of its most popular varieties were bred by one person, Latour-Marliac, almost a hundred years ago. After his death, many specialists tried to continue his work. But the varieties of white water lilies they developed were not as successful as their predecessors. Latour-Marliac took with him the secret of the creation of this beautiful plant.
White water lily on Latin called: nymphea candida (Nymphaea Candida), which translated into Russian means: white nymph.
From Ancient Greece, legends have come down to us about beautiful water girls, reminiscent of Slavic mermaids, who were called nymphs.
Legend says that such a fabulous nymph turned into a white water lily flower.
The shiny, glossy leaves of water lilies are covered with a waxy coating on top and are not wetted by water. Torn petioles rise to the surface and float. Let's be curious why this is so. Having cut off a piece of the petiole, let's look at the light. There is a noticeably large number of gaps.
Submerge the water lily leaf under water and blow forcefully into the end of the petiole. A large number of small shiny air bubbles will appear on the surface of the leaf blade. The fact is that on the surface of the leaf there are up to 11 million tiny holes - stomata. They can be seen under a microscope on a thin section of the upper skin of a leaf. Air passes through the stomata to the underwater stem. With a strong magnifying glass, you can see bunches of needles on the cut of the leaf petiole in the corners of the air vessels. These needles protect the water lily petioles from being eaten by snails.
When pulling the rhizome of a water lily out of the water, one cannot help but notice the young leaves that do not reach the surface of the water - they are rolled up into a tube.
Look at the water lily plant in the photo, illustrating the unusual appearance of the flower and the variety of colors of its buds:
What does a water lily look like (with photo)
The water lily can grow on the muddy, loose bottom of standing or slowly flowing waters. It happens that small bodies of water dry out, and then the floating leaves with long flexible petioles die off. But after some time, small leaves appear on the rhizome on strong, erect petioles. You can see what a water lily looks like on any decorative pond, where this amazing plant is grown for decorative purposes.
Under the influence of the sun's rays, starch is formed from air (carbon dioxide) and water in the wide leaves of the water lily. This starch is converted into sugar, the solution of which descends along the leaf petioles to the rhizome. Here the sugar is converted back into starch and deposited in the rhizome. Especially large stock starch accumulates in the rhizome by autumn. In spring and early summer, these starch reserves are spent on leaf growth, flowering and fruit formation.
The rhizome of the white water lily is the product from which flour can be obtained.
But at seven o'clock in the morning the bud of the water lily flower will float to the surface and open again under the rays of the sun. And all day long the flower will turn towards the sun, and in the evening four shiny sepals will tightly cover the snow-white flower and it will sink into the water.
The world famous Swedish botanist who lived in the 18th century, Carl Linnaeus, recognized the time by flowers. He even composed " flower clock", "Flora hours", - a list of times at which flowers open and close; During these hours the white water lily was also turned on.
Let's pick a water lily flower and examine it. Which large flower! Measure its diameter. Outside there are four sepals, they float on the water, and snow-white petals lie on them. There are many of them. Large at the edges, they become smaller and smaller towards the middle. Yellow tips appear on the small petals, gradually turning into thin stamens with pollen sacs. In the middle is a pistil with a radiant stigma and a round ovary, similar to a jug or poppy box.
Tear off the sepals, petals and stamens of the flower, place them between the sheets of an unnecessary book and dry them. When they are dry, stick them in order of change on a piece of paper and note all the transitions from petals to stamens.
This observation of a water lily flower led famous poet Wolfgang Goethe to the discovery of the botanical law of transformation, or metamorphosis, of plant leaves. The calyxes, petals, stamens and carpels of the pistil ovary were formed from modified leaves.
Look what a water lily looks like in the photo, which shows different types of plants during the budding and flowering period:
The ends of water lily petals secrete honey. They are visited by beetles, flies and bees. Insects carry pollen from flower to flower by pollinating the pistils.
After pollination, the flower withers and the fruit grows in the form of a multi-starred berry with black seeds. Roasted water lily seeds can be consumed as coffee.
When the fruit rots, the seeds do not sink, but float, since in the white water lily they are surrounded by a whitish shell filled with air, while in the yellow one the pulp holds the seeds on the surface of the water. A breeze will blow, ripple the surface of the lake, and the water lily seeds will fly to the other shore. The shell of the white water lily seeds is also eaten by fish, which contribute to their spread. The air gradually leaves the shell, and then the seeds sink to the bottom. But often the seeds fall to the bottom not of their native reservoir, but of some other, distant one. The fact is that the fruits of the water lily consist of a juicy, sticky and viscous mass, like dough. This fruit pulp is a favorite delicacy of water hens. The seeds stick to the paws, beaks and feathers of chickens and are carried by them to new bodies of water far away.
Water lily flower: description and photo
The water lily flower is a perennial aquatic plant with leathery, whole, green leaves lying on the surface of the water and large, single snow-white flowers that have a pleasant aroma. The plant blooms at the end of June. All leaves of the plant are arranged in a spiral, with underwater leaves usually curled into a cap, and floating leaves have a rounded shape and curve upward at the edges. Starting the description of the water lily, we note that the fruit of the plant is multi-leafed, resembling a pitcher in shape, ripening under water with seeds that, in nature, are distributed by birds.
Reading the description of the water lily and looking at the photo, you can see that this plant is distinguished by its external grandeur and originality of its buds, which is illustrated below:
The white water lily is one of the most characteristic representatives of the type of aquatic plants attached to the bottom of a reservoir and having leaves floating on the surface of the water. At a fairly significant depth (2 - 4 meters) we can easily find the rhizome of this plant, which extends along the muddy bottom and is all covered with scars from old leaves; Few new leaves develop on it every year. The rhizome is quite thick and contains a significant amount of mealy and tannin substances, giving it a rather characteristic taste. These properties of the rhizome led to the fact that in ancient times, during the era of pile buildings, it was used as food, and even now the native population of Eastern Siberia sometimes eats these rhizomes, and in times of famine they are used as food in Europe. At the same time, water lily rhizomes also have their uses in folk medicine. The rhizome gives rise to adventitious roots (the main root soon dies when seeds germinate and does not develop further).
Look at the water lily flower in the photo, which shows the stages of development of an aquatic plant in a pond:
What kind of leaves do water lilies have?
Starting the story about what kinds of water lilies there are, it should be mentioned that already quite early in the summer, in May, the rhizome gives rise to several leaves, which very quickly stretch upward and in adult form consist of a long cylindrical petiole, sometimes reaching 3-5 meters in length and ending with a plate almost round in general outline, but deeply notched on one side. This plate floats on the surface of the water, and it is the most important organ for plant life, absorbing gases necessary for the plant. The leaf blade of the water lily is a specimen best accommodation for life at the border of water and air. First of all, it is penetrated, like the leaf petiole, by a wide network of air-bearing cavities; this makes it easier for her to float on the surface of the water, not to mention other important advantages. We will discuss below which water lily leaves are of decisive importance.
At the same time, all vascular bundles through which current flows nutrients, are accompanied by mechanical elements that make the flat leaf of the water lily sufficiently strong and resistant to wave shock; It takes a very strong disturbance for the water lily leaf to tear into pieces. However, danger from waves still exists for water lilies and egg capsules, and therefore in large reservoirs and large lakes we find these plants mainly in protected places: in small bays, bays, or under the protection of the outer belt of reeds and reeds.
We already see that for the absorption of gases necessary for the water lily, almost the only source is the leaf blade floating on the water. Naturally, almost exclusively the upper surface of the floating leaf blade serves this purpose, since it is accessible to air, which contains all the gases necessary for the plant in greater quantities than water. Naturally, all the organs that serve to maintain communication between the internal parts of the plant and the outside world, all the stomata, are located on the upper surface and, moreover, in colossal quantities - there are tens of millions of them on each leaf. At the same time, these stomata must be protected in one way or another, otherwise they will be flooded with water or covered with dust. For such protection, special hairs are used, which, as if acting as a veil or handkerchief, help protect the stomata from the entry of unwanted objects into them. Several genera of hairs can be distinguished on the leaves of water lilies and: firstly, rather long, segmented hairs that cover, sometimes quite densely, the young organs of the plant; secondly, star-shaped, so-called trichoblasts, which develop inside the air cavities of the plant, and, finally, thirdly, small mucus-secreting hairs that develop on the underside of the leaf blade and on flowers and secrete mucus that lubricates the plant. Since the leaf blade could also suffer from excess moisture and the stomata would be flooded with water, the water lily has developed another device, thanks to which the upper surface of the leaf is not wetted by water: it is completely covered with a layer of wax secreted by the leaf skin of the upper side of the blade.
Leaf of an aquatic plant water lily (with photo)
In very shallow bodies of water, along with the floating leaves of an aquatic plant, water lilies sometimes develop, as an exception, free-standing aerial leaves. They are smaller, thick-skinned, rough, their air system is undeveloped, which indicates an approach to the type of ordinary aerial leaves. However, the underside of these leaves does not bear stomata, and this is a significant difference from ordinary aerial leaves. For the water lily, returning to a terrestrial way of life is so forgotten that it was no longer able to develop a complete correspondence of the structure of these leaves with the air regime.
Let us now answer the question, how does a water lily absorb gases dissolved in it from water at a time when the petiole has not yet reached the surface of the reservoir, and the stomata of the upper side of the floating leaf blade have not yet begun to act? For this purpose, special underwater leaves are used, which are long, thin, belt-shaped plates that absorb gases dissolved in water over their entire surface. After the formation of floating leaves, these underwater leaves die and are no longer formed, since there is no need for them. In water that flows too quickly or in stagnant water, but at too great depths, such leaves cannot form and therefore the sprouted plants must die; however, in yellow egg capsules, even under such conditions, underwater, narrow, braid-like leaves are formed, with the help of which the plant provides itself with the opportunity to survive the early stage of development. These submerged leaves, which are subsequently replaced by ordinary floating leaves, represent one of the very obvious “juvenile forms of a plant,” that is, those forms that a plant presents in the initial stages of its life in order to later form a more perfect form. Similar phenomena are not uncommon in the animal world; let us recall at least some amphibians, for example. newts, in which first a larval form develops, living in water, and then this form passes into an adult newt, already leading a terrestrial lifestyle. It is remarkable that the same reasons that prevent the appearance of floating leaves with stomata in the water lily and egg capsule - the depth of the reservoir and the speed of the current - equally influence the retardation of the transformation of the gill-breathing stages of amphibians into stages adapted to air respiration.
Look what a water lily leaf looks like in the photo showing different shapes this part of the plant:
Already in the first half of summer, water lilies begin to bloom. On the surface of the reservoir, among the floating leaves, oblong, rather large green buds appear one after another, which soon gradually open, and the sepals, tiled over each other, unscrew in order to show inside a significant number of snow-white leaves, of which the outer ones have type of petals. However, the further we move into the depths of the water lily flower, studying its petals, the more their shape will change, the narrower they will become, and at the same time, at the top of them, first the rudiments of pollen sacs will appear, and then the anthers themselves. Thus, inside the flower we no longer have petals, but stamens, and in the entire white water lily flower we have one of the most striking examples of the so-called metamorphosis of plant organs, in this case the gradual transition of a leaf-shaped organ, a petal, into a stamen; the inner stamens no longer look at all like petals; they are filamentous and orange-yellow. The middle of the flower is occupied by the pistil, which consists of a semi-inferior single-locular ovary with many ovules and a stigma, divided into 8 - 10 - 12 several curved rays. During the development of a flower, the pistil ripens first before the stamens have produced any pollen suitable for fertilization (this phenomenon is called proterogyny). Therefore, fertilization requires the assistance of insects, which come to the water lily flower in small numbers to collect pollen, since white water lily flowers do not produce nectar. After fertilization, the petals of the water lily fall off, leaving one pistil containing many fertilized ovules. Soon, however, the peduncle begins to bend to one side, and the gradually growing fruit is immersed in water, where its final ripening occurs. When the fruit is ripe, each seed of the white water lily is released separately and is soon carried to the surface of the reservoir, thanks to the air-bearing layer surrounding the seed; Gradually, however, water penetrates this layer, and the seed is again immersed in water in order to germinate in the mud next spring.
Types of water lily plants
Our water lilies are representatives of the Nymphaeaceae family, which in tropical countries is represented much richer and more diverse than here. This includes the famous majestic Victoria regia, the beauty of South American rivers, which is bred with considerable difficulty in the greenhouses of the largest botanical gardens in Europe.
In our North, the nymphaeaceae family is represented by only two types of water lilies and egg capsules, which easily differ from each other not only in the structure and color of the corolla, but also in the structure of the petiole and leaf blade, which can help identify the plant on an excursion if we we will find only leaves floating on the water, as often happens. On a cross-section of the petiole of a white water lily, we notice vascular-fibrous bundles arranged in one ring, and in addition one bundle in the center.
Observing and studying the white appearance of the water lily plant, we will pay attention to some structural features of their flower. The base of the calyx can be rounded or sharply quadrangular. In the first case we have a real white water lily ( Nymphaea alba ), which usually has a completely yellow stigma with 12-20 rays and is found mainly in Central Europe, and in our country only in the western part of the country.
Much more widespread throughout our country is the common white water lily ( Nymphaea Candida ), which has smaller flowers, a quadrangular calyx base and often a reddish stigma with fewer rays.
Finally, we must mention one more type of water lily, namely the small white water lily ( Nymphaea tetragona ), which is distinguished by very small flowers with a sharply quadrangular calyx base and a very small number of stigma rays.
Tiger water lily (Nymphea) (Nimphaea spec. "Lotus").
Scientists are still wondering where this beauty comes from. So far, its homeland is unknown, and not many plants can boast of this! Nymphea has large shiny leaves covered with brown dots, and their color comes in two variations: either green or red. Like any water lily, nymphea can form leaves that float on the surface of the water. And bloom beautifully.
Nymphea is very picky when it comes to soil. It should contain a lot of organic matter. Its root system is quite large, but the roots themselves are delicate, so gravel with a particle size of 4–8 mm, to which you need to add clay, or clay balls with peat and charcoal. Sometimes, to create a whim necessary conditions, the nymph is planted in a separate pot, where it is easier to make the soil it needs than in a general aquarium.
Water for nymphs should be soft, no more than 4 dH, pH 6–6.8. If the water is harder, the nymph's underwater leaves are crushed, it will begin to bush and it will be difficult to form floating leaves. She loves old water; regular water changes are not at all necessary for the nymph. Temperature 24–28 degrees.
Nymphea loves bright light. If there is not enough light, the color of the leaves becomes faded, especially for the red form. The preferred lamp power is 0.5–0.6 W per 1 liter of aquarium volume.
Nymphea can reproduce both by seeds and vegetatively. If it is contained in suitable conditions, in soft water, then you can see a real miracle in your aquarium - how at night a snow-white lily with yellow stamens in the center rises to the surface of the water and blooms. It's unforgettable!
After flowering, the nymphea forms a capsule, which again goes under water. Ripe seeds can be sown in separate pots with sand covered with water, and the water temperature can be maintained at 26 degrees. After a week, the seeds germinate, then the seedlings are thinned out, and after 2-3 leaves have formed, they are transplanted into large pots. When the young nymph gives 4–5 large leaves, it can be planted in a community aquarium.
If the water hardness is more than 6 dH, then the nymph does not bloom, but forms basal layering. They form a dense thicket that needs to be thinned out, otherwise the young plants will be very weak and frail.
IN artificial reservoirs Most often, hybrid water lilies-nymphs, familiar to many as “water lilies,” are bred. There are countless varieties of water lilies, and they differ from each other only in the size and color of the flowers. It is the size, which ranges from 5 to 30 cm, that you need to pay attention to first of all: it must correspond to the size of your reservoir. Thus, large water lilies are suitable only for large ponds, and miniature varieties are appropriate in a mini-pond.
Quadrangular water lily (with photo)
The quadrangular water lily is a perennial aquatic plant with a thin rhizome, growing in lakes and river oxbows, swamps. The leaves have long petioles and float on the surface of the water, with bare, ovate-heart-shaped plates up to 15 cm long below. Flowers up to 5.5 cm in diameter, floating on the surface of the water, green sepals, white petals, 8–10 in number.
The species is widespread in the temperate zone throughout Eurasia, including in Russia (in the boreal and nemoral zones). Also found in North America.
An aquatic plant that grows in shallow lakes and swamps.
Look at the photo of the quadrangular water lily, which shows different stages in plant growth and development:
How the white water lily blooms: description and photo of the flower
The white water lily flower in Russia grows in the European part. Outside - in Western Europe, in the Caucasus, in Asia Minor. Nemoral Eurasian species. You can see how this type of pitcher blooms only in wildlife, since it does not reproduce in artificial reservoirs.
A perennial aquatic rhizomatous plant with large floating long-petioled leaves, the blades of the leaf blades diverge, their internal sides somewhat rounded, outer veins of the first order, included in the leaf blades, almost straight or curved only in the first third of their length. The flowers are solitary, large (up to 15 cm in diameter), the base of the calyx is rounded, the petals are dazzlingly white, and the outside of the flower is wide. From the periphery of the flower to its center, the shape of the petals changes: they gradually narrow, turn into staminodes, and then gradually turn into stamens. In the middle of the flower there is a flat or almost flat stigma with a short hemispherical central process with 8 - 24 rays. Pollen grains are covered with spikes. Flowers with a faint pleasant scent. The fruits are large, almost spherical, multi-seeded. Blooms in June - August. Seeds float to the surface and are spread by birds; vegetative propagation is possible.
Reading the description of the white water lily and looking at its photo, it becomes clear that this is an amazing plant:
Yellow water lily: description of the pond plant
The yellow water lily as a pond plant has the following local names: Balabolki (Olon.), Yellow bells, Aquarius, Adalen, Odolen, Aquarius, River Watch (Bonfire), Yellow Watchman (Aster.), Glechichok, Glechechki, Yellow Glechiki, Zhovti Glechiki (flowers), Gorlyash seed, Gorlachiki, Mushroom plant , in Little Russia the flowers are called: Bobki, Babki, the fruits are Zbanok, Zbanochki, the leaves are Kapelushki, and the root is Tovstup.
Description of the yellow water lily: This is a perennial aquatic plant with creeping rhizomes from the water lily family, distributed throughout almost all of Europe and throughout Russia. Rounded leaves with a deeply heart-shaped base; leaves float on the surface of the water, and yellow flowers are exposed from the water by 4–7 cm. Sepals 5; There are many petals attached to the receptacle. The ovary is multilocular, with a sessile radiate stigma. The flowers are fragrant. The fruit is juicy, berry-shaped. Grows in ponds and slow-moving waters. Blooms from June to August. The roots of the plant are used for food during times of famine.
Plant name |
Note |
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Miniature water lilies |
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Snow-white water lily |
snow-white cupped flowers with bright yellow stamens and a pistil with a red stigma |
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Fragrant water lily minor |
leaves are pale green above and red below; flowers are fragrant, star-shaped, snow-white with yellow stamens |
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Dwarf water lily alba |
leaves with purple undersurface. Flowers are tiny (2.5 cm in diameter), star-shaped, white in color. |
requires shelter in winter |
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Dwarf water lily "Helvola" |
leaves with brown spots, star-shaped pale yellow flowers with bright yellow stamens |
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Leidecker water lily "Fulgens" |
leaves - on long petioles, purple below: bright red flowers (darken over time) with orange-red stamens |
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Leidecker water lily "Lilacea" |
leaves with brown spots: fragrant cupped pale pink flowers with pointed petals (darken over time) |
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Leidecker water lily "Missouri" |
leaves - with brown spots on top and purple below: dark pink flowers with pointed petals (darken over time) |
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Water lily "Froebeli" |
olive green leaves: blood red flowers with orange stamens |
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Water lily "Graziella" |
leaves with purple spots: apricot-yellow flowers that eventually turn crimson, with orange-red stamens |
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Average water lilies |
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Fragrant water lily alba |
white cupped flowers with pointed petals and yellow stamens |
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Waterlily fragrant rosea |
pale pink flowers with yellow stamens |
grows up to 1.5 m: grows at a depth of 22-30 cm |
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Water lily gauze "Alblda" |
leaves with a brown border: fragrant snow-white flowers with a pinkish tint on the outside of the petals |
grows up to 1.5 m: grows at a depth of 22-60 cm |
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Gauze water lily "Chromatella" |
leaves with brown spots: cup-shaped bright yellow flowers with wide petals curved inward. the outer side of which may have a pink tint |
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Gauze water lily "Rosea" |
young leaves are purple-green in color; flowers are fragrant, pale pink. darken over time Water lily "Graziella"; Fragrant water lily alba;
Fragrant water lily rosea; Gauze water lily “Alblda”;
Gauze water lily "Chromatella"; Gauze water lily "Rosea";
Water lily "Amabilis". How to plant and grow water liliesBefore planting a water lily, you need to purchase planting material from specialized centers. When purchasing, you should clarify the area of the surface leaves of a particular variety. In total, it should not exceed half the area of the water surface, otherwise the water lily will lack oxygen, and the floating leaves will begin to curl up. It is also advisable to find out from the sellers all the features characteristic of the water lily you are purchasing. First of all, the size of the leaves, flowers and planting depth. And only then surrender to your own taste and choose plants according to color, shape of flowers and floating leaves. If you start from the end, it may turn out that the variety of water lily you like simply does not suit your pond. That will be a disappointment!
Before you grow water lilies, you need to understand that, in principle, growing these plants is not very difficult. The main thing to remember is that water lilies love warm, standing water and sun. They should be in the sun for at least 5 hours a day. Most water lilies prefer a quiet backwater and cannot tolerate flowing water, however, there are also species that develop better in running water. Requirements for water depth should be clarified in each individual case. Water lilies overwinter in containers with cold water at a temperature of 0–8 °C in cold, poorly heated rooms (basements, verandas, underground garages, etc.). If the pond does not freeze to the bottom, then the pots with rhizomes can be left directly in the pond. How to grow water lilies in a pond (with video)Water lilies are propagated in the spring by dividing the rhizomes. Before growing water lilies in a pond, first dig up and clear the rhizome from the soil. Too much long roots trim and remove damaged leaves. Cut the rhizome into several parts and plant the plots in pots filled with regular garden soil. Sprinkle the soil with gravel on top. Place the pots in a container filled with water. In summer, containers with rooting plots are recommended to be kept outdoors; for winter they are transferred to a cool room. A year after the start of division, the young plants are transplanted into a pond to a permanent place.
Watch how water lilies grow in a pond in the video, which shows some agricultural techniques: | ||
