Nymphea or water lily is a flower of extraordinary beauty that occurs naturally in the open spaces of the river. There are many legends about its origin. It is quite popular for decoration of artificial and natural reservoirs and is used to decorate zoos, botanical gardens, amusement parks.
Tetrahedral water lily: description and photo
This is a perennial aquatic flower with thick buds rising above the water column. Water lilies belong to the Nymphaeaceae family. All of them have a powerful root system that can be fixed in the bottom soil and stay there, despite the waves and currents that are sometimes observed in reservoirs. The tetrahedral type of water lily belongs to the smallest representatives of the Family. They have heart-shaped oval leaves, painted in pale greenish tones on the back side, and rich green on the top. Sometimes dark spots of irregular shape are visible on the leaf blades, but this is not a characteristic feature of the species.
White, small in diameter (up to 50 mm), water lily flowers have 12 oval-oblong petals with slightly pointed edges. The base of the cup is quadrangular. Leathery triangular-oval sepals, horizontally trimmed at the base, form a quadrangular pyramid together with the fruit. The core of each flower is filled with numerous yellow stamens. Tetrahedral water lilies bloom very gently and elegantly. The photo shows one of these cute flowers, as if in a mirror, reflected in a pond. This plant reacts to sunlight by opening its buds towards noon and closing again in the evening. Water lilies bloom from June (in some regions from May) until frost. It is noteworthy that their graceful flowers have a pleasant aroma.
Breeding at home
The tetrahedral water lily, the description of which is given above, feels great not only in natural, but also in artificial reservoirs. If all conditions are created for her, she can become an original decoration in landscape design household plot. Note that the color of its petals can be not only white, but also pink, lilac, purple, purple, beige and even blue. Thanks to the different colors of miniature buds, you can create unusual compositions.
Ground requirements:
- Enriched with organic matter.
- Heavy.
- Silty.
- Definitely with the addition of clay.
- Nutritious.
The soft water in which the flower will live should be slightly acidic. Growing a tetrahedral water lily cannot be called easy. This plant, endowing with beauty, requires increased attention to its person. It can be propagated by seeds, but the result will be good only in open water systems. At home, it is better to use the method of dividing the rhizome. Each fragment must have at least one growth bud.
Planting a delenka is required immediately, since the rhizome is irreversibly damaged when prolonged absence moisture. It is advisable to first place a young plant in a pre-prepared and filled the right soil capacity, but you can immediately into the pond. So that the roots that have not yet been fixed do not emerge, they are carefully fixed with small pebbles or screenings. At what depth to plant a tetrahedral water lily depends on the size of the seedling. It can be only 30 cm or even 1 meter.
A container with a flower must be kept in a pond from the first day of planting. As the water lily grows, its "house" is immersed deeper and deeper. In regions with cold winters, it is wiser not to transplant it from the container to the bottom, since in the fall the plant will have to be placed again in some kind of container and taken out to a cool room so that it does not die in the pond freezing to the bottom. It is important to know that tetrahedral water lilies love light, but they will also bloom in partial shade. But in the dense shade of flowering it is useless to wait. The second condition for successful cultivation is standing water. In extreme cases, small waves are allowed. But near fountains or other systems that create vibrations and rapid movement of water, they die.
Water lilies love feeding. A large amount of fertilizer is applied during the period of active growth. They "spoil" her with bone meal, which is combined with clay, roll balls from such a "dough" and place them near the roots.
Diseases and pests
The plant is disease resistant. In this regard, she rarely causes trouble. Of the pests, only aphids attack it. In this case, the flower is affected, but the plant itself does not suffer. A strong jet of water is used to fight. The use of insecticidal agents is undesirable, since a violation of the aquatic microflora is possible.
On our planet, this flowering plant is one of the oldest. There are many interesting legends about water lilies. According to one of them, a beautiful nymph turned into this flower, who fell in love with Hercules with all her heart, but he did not respond to her feelings. Water lilies are called mermaid flowers, water lilies, elf girlfriends, white chickens. Many types of water lilies are used in medicine, since all parts of the plant contain alkaloids, flavonoids, starch, glycosides, and tannins. They are used for diarrhea, hepatitis, insomnia, headaches, bladder spasms, for the treatment of external skin injuries. Some peoples use water lilies in cooking. If their seeds are roasted, they will taste like coffee. This plant has rather powerful roots that are rich in starch. Some peoples use them to make starch flour.
The leaves and flowers of water lilies are always clean, as they are covered with a special substance that repels any dirt.
Water lilies in a freshwater aquarium
Water lily tetrahedral - this is one of the delightful decorations of the aquarium. When created in the right conditions, namely, abundant light, the right nutrients of organic nature and water temperature, this miniature plant is able to delight aquarists with delicate flowers and beautiful leaves for many years. The plant is called a living filter, as it, together with shrimps, which are happy to hide in the foliage of the nymphaeum, purify the water from harmful substances. In November, the water lily is taken out of the aquarium and placed in a container that must be placed in a cool place, as the plant begins a period of rest or hibernation. Return the plant to the aquarium in early spring.
Features of a tetrahedral water lily
Among the representatives of the Nymphaeaceae family there are species that cannot survive in cold weather and are winter-hardy. Such frost is not terrible, but at the same time their root system should not freeze through. Water lily tetrahedral is a winter-hardy species. The range of its natural growth is quite wide. It can be found almost throughout Russia, with the exception of the south and the Far North, as well as in North America, Canada, Finland, Japan, China.
In many regions, the lovely nymphs are endangered. If urgent measures are not taken to improve the ecosystems of reservoirs, then in the near future, the complete disappearance of these wonderful flowers is possible. The tetrahedral water lily is also already listed in the Red Book. Fortunately, the catastrophic situation is still observed only with some species. The main cause of death is pollution of water bodies and extermination during the flowering period.
Walking along the banks of a river or lake, you can see snow-white flowers surrounded by large green plates of leaves, as if floating on the surface of the water - these are nymphs or water lilies. However, such names are not often used in everyday life, usually the plant is called a water lily. A water lily, as a rule, is called a capsule, which is very common in our reservoirs.
Its Latin name is nymphea, according to legend, the flower received in honor of the Greek nymph, who forever plunged into the underwater depths because of unrequited love. Of course, the very way of life of an amazing plant sets in a fabulous mood. In many cultures, the water lily, stretching flowers from the depths of the river to the surface, is associated with mermaids, nymphs and other mystical inhabitants of the reservoirs.
In ancient Egyptian culture, a lot of attention was paid to the flowers of the water lily. Evidence has been preserved, both in the form of scrolls and in stone carvings, which depict this beautiful plant. The lotus, which is what the Nile water lily is called, is the most common motif for decorating the capitals of the columns of ancient Egyptian temples, and in particular the complex in Karnak.
Probably due to the bright yellow core of the inflorescence, the blue lotus, growing from the sacred depths of the Nile, was considered the receptacle of the great Ra. The Sun God came out of the flower in the morning, illuminating the world around him, and returned at night. Due to the mystical significance, the ancient priests widely used the Egyptian water lily in funeral rituals. Dried nymphs were found in the sarcophagus of Pharaoh Ramses II.
Of course, such a beautiful flower could not be left without the attention of artists. The great impressionist Claude Monet painted a series of canvases where the central motif is an old pond, the entire surface of which is densely covered with beautiful pink water lilies.
However, in addition to inspiration, nymphs also bring quite earthly, practical benefits. Water lilies can be processed to produce the starch found in the leaves, stems, and especially the fleshy underwater roots.
The plant is edible. Young shoots, flower buds and roots are used in the preparation of traditional Thai dishes. Water lily is served both boiled and fried.
Hindus collect the dried leaves and stems of the plant in dry waters during the dry period, and then use it to feed livestock.
Nymphea is also used in folk medicine:
- A decoction of a water lily is used as a cosmetic remedy for removing acne, blackheads, freckles, and skin inflammations.
- Root tincture helps with indigestion.
- Young flowers and shoots contain sedatives and are used as a sedative.
[!] Egyptian water lily contains alkaloid aporphine, which has a psychedelic effect on humans, and is banned in some countries, including Russia.
For the gardener and landscape designer, water lilies are a great decoration for a pond. Moreover, in order to admire the flowers of a beautiful plant, it is not at all necessary to own a huge plot with a lake or a pond. A water lily can be grown in an artificial reservoir-a container the size of an ordinary bath.
In addition to the beautiful inflorescences pleasing to the eye, the wide leaves of the plant bring practical benefits to the reservoir. Plates floating on the surface give a lot of shade and prevent the development of microscopic algae. Thus, the water lily keeps the purity and prevents the water from blooming.
Aquarists keep tropical water lily species at home. True, when decorating an aquarium, only the underwater leaves of the plant are used, the surface part with the ovaries of flowers is completely removed. However, to decorate the fish kingdom, as a rule, varieties are taken with expressive, for example, spotty-brindle, coloring of leaf plates. Effective artificial lighting promotes the manifestation of bright and contrasting pigmentation, so that the underwater part is in no way inferior to the inflorescences in beauty.
From the point of view of scientific classification, water lilies (lat. Numphaea) belong to the genus of herbaceous aquatic perennial plants of the water lily family (lat. Numphaeacae). The most famous and common relative of the lily nymph is the egg capsule, and the most famous, due to the outstanding size of the leaves, is Victoria.
The flower is widespread. Nymphaeum, numbering a total of about fifty species, grow in almost all corners the globe. Plants are distinguished by a wide range of inflorescence colors. In nature, there are water lilies with a white, blue, pink, blue and yellow palette of petals.
All species are related to each other by a similar structure of leaves - large, rounded, sometimes with a pointed end, smooth or jagged edges and a deep cut at the point of attachment to the stem. The plates are pulled out from the root on long flexible petioles and float on the surface of the reservoir. However, in some species of water lilies, some of the leaves and flowers are not located on the water, but rise above the surface on elastic stems.
Water lilywhite(lat. Numphaea alba) or European white water lily. The species is distributed throughout almost all of Europe, found in some regions of North Africa and the Middle East, as well as in India.
The plant has a large fleshy root, located horizontally almost on the very surface of the bottom soil and reaching a length of 50-70 cm. The adventitious roots that hold the nymphaeum go 15-30 cm deep. rounded leaves floating on the surface 20-25 cm in diameter. On the water, one plant, with its leaves covers an area of \u200b\u200bup to one and a half meters. At the height of summer, the flowering period begins, usually lasting from July to August - the nymphea blooms a large white flower with a yellow core.
[!] As paradoxical as it sounds, in nature there is a red subspecies of the white water lily - Nymphaea alba f. Rosea. The plant was found in Sweden in Lake Fagertarn. Numerous tourists visiting the reservoir almost brought the species to the brink of extinction, but they still managed to save it, taking it under the protection of the state.
Water lilysnow-white(lat. Numphaea candida) - the species inhabits Eurasia. Widely distributed in the European part of Russia, Western and Eastern Siberia. In addition, it is found in the reservoirs of Kazakhstan and Central Asia. Very similar to the white water lily and is probably its subspecies.
Water lilyblue(lat. Numphaea caerulea) - the famous sacred blue Egyptian lotus or lily.
Originally growing along the Nile, the flower gradually spread throughout East Africa, India and Thailand.
Outwardly, it differs in wide, 30-40 cm in diameter, leaves and relatively medium-sized, 10-15 cm, flowers. The color of the inflorescence can vary markedly from pale blue to blue and even purple.
Water lilylotus(lat. Numphaea lotus) - another famous flower, which is often called white lotus, tiger lotus, Egyptian white lily. Despite the use of the word "lotus" in the name, from a botanical point of view, this plant has nothing to do with the genus of lotuses (lat. Nelumbo).
The culture is common in East Africa and some water bodies in Southeast Asia.
[!] It is interesting that a subspecies of such a heat-loving water lily can be found even in Europe. Water lily lotus subspecies thermal (lat. Numphaea lotus var. termalis) grows in thermal reservoirs of Romania and Hungary.
The stems of the plant are elastic and able to hold young leaves, as well as inflorescences blooming above the surface of the water at a height of up to 40 cm. The color of the petals is traditionally white, but sometimes, depending on external conditions, it can be painted pink.
K. white, K. snow-white, K. blue, K. lotus water lily kApskaya(lat. Numphaea capensis) - originally from South Africa. One of the features of the species is the excellent tolerance of long dry periods. The root of this water lily is able to survive for some time even in a completely dehydrated reservoir, so that with the onset of the rainy season, when the channel is filled with water again, it will start young sprouts.
Due to vitality and unpretentiousness, the water lily was resettled and took root well in the freshwater reservoirs of the coast of Florida, as well as in Australia. The heat-loving flower feels best at shallow depths and in clear water with abundant lighting.
water lily painted(lat. Numphaea colorata) lives in the tropical part of East Africa.
The petals of this beautiful water lily have a purple hue. Green leaves with a diameter of 20-25 cm form a large bush on the water. The plant has a long flowering period and does not shed its petals even when the temperature drops to 18 ° C. The water lily served as an excellent material for fairly resistant and at the same time brightly colored hybrid varieties.
water lily mexican(lat. Numphaea mexicana) is widespread in southern waters in the United States and, of course, Mexico. The beautiful sunflower is commonly referred to as the yellow, Mexican, and sometimes banana water lily.
The Mexican water lily does well in the right conditions. The plant reproduces rapidly by both seeds and stolon root shoots and easily captures a new habitat, as it did in a freshwater swampy basin in California.
The water lily is distinguished by yellow-green inflorescences with a bright orange core. Floating on the surface of the water, rounded green leaves on the underwater side usually have a purple-brown hue. The Mexican water lily blooms in the summer, although in warmer areas it may bloom in the spring, and with the onset of heat, shed flowers.
giant water lily(lat. Numphaea gigantea) is a subtropical species found in the waters of Australia and New Guinea.
It is distinguished by large blue-blue flowers with a bright yellow core and large rounded floating leaves with jagged edges, reaching 60-80 cm in diameter.
water lily(lat. Numphaea odorata) inhabits almost the entire North American continent. The plant is also called fragrant or American water lily.
This fragrant nymphaeum is very common in the United States and is as typical as the white water lily in Russia. With its white inflorescence with a bright yellow core, the plant even outwardly resembles an inhabitant of our ponds, differing only in a stronger aroma.
American gardeners and landscape designers are happy to use the scented water lily to decorate artificial ponds.
Water lily fluffy(lat. Numphaea pubescens) is a tropical flower, sometimes called a hairy or pink water lily.
This type of nymph is found almost everywhere in Asia. The water lily grows in countries such as India, Taiwan, Laos, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam and the Philippines. In addition, it was introduced and settled down in Australia and New Guinea.
This heat-loving tropical flower does not tolerate temperatures below 15°C. It lives in reservoirs with calm stagnant water and low acidity.
Rounded leaves floating on the surface, about 20-25 cm in diameter, have uneven jagged edges, and the lower underwater part of the plate is covered with a kind of thin hair. The stems of the plant also have villi, for which this type of nymphaeum received the prefix - fluffy or hairy. The flowers are usually white or pink, but there are lilac and even purple hybrids.
Fluffy water lily can be purchased as an aquarium plant. As a rule, aquarists remove the entire surface of the plant, leaving only the underwater foliage.
K. cape, K. dyed, K. mexican, K. odorous Water lily in landscape design
When constructing a reservoir on a personal plot, the biggest difficulty lies in the fact that it is necessary to enter an initially artificial object into the natural environment. In case of an error, instead of a harmonious element of the landscape, a banal pit with water may turn out.
Of course, the best assistant in this matter is nature itself, or rather, its plant part, flora, and if it’s for sure, then the most aristocratic and beautiful inhabitant of reservoirs is a water lily. Indeed, it is difficult to imagine something more natural and noble than the water surface of the pond, covered with beautiful water lily flowers.
The water lily is easily combined with any vegetation usually planted along the banks: hosta, calamus. In addition, the nymph does not interfere with the life of underwater inhabitants, if any, in the reservoir. The foliage of the plant provides shade, provides underwater hiding places for fish and favorably affects the purity of the water.
However, in decoration, as in any business, it is necessary to observe the measure. Water lilies should not be planted all over the pond. It will be better if the culture takes up about a third of the total area. Such a proportion of pure water to the green mass of foliage looks the most impressive, and in addition, it makes it possible for the free growth and development of each individual water lily bush.
Water lily cultivation and care
Selection of varieties
If there is a reservoir on the site, you need to decide on the plant variety. If you approach from a practical point of view and do not take into account decorative parameters, as well as personal aesthetic preferences, then the most important difference between the varieties lies in the thermophilicity and size of the plants.
Of course, the most suitable type of water lily in terms of winter hardiness will be plants from a nearby pond, river or lake. Many gardeners do just that: transplanting an ordinary white water lily does not require special skills and extra costs.
However, if you want to admire a more exotic plant with bright colors, you can purchase a cold-resistant tropical hybrid.
Two centuries ago, French breeder Joseph Marliac set himself the goal of adapting beautiful tropical water lilies to harsh climate conditions. He was engaged in crossing local winter-hardy plants with brightly colored heat-loving varieties. The result of the work of the French breeder was more than six dozen beautiful varieties of water lilies, to their own name, which is attributed in honor of the master - Marliacea.
Work on breeding hybrids is ongoing, enthusiasts in all corners of the world create and grow new never-before-seen flowers. Of course, not all varieties are suitable for cultivation in Russia, but you can still pick up a bright and unusual nymphaeum that suits the conditions of our climate.
It is also desirable to take into account the size of the reservoir and the planted plant.
Dwarf varieties of water lilies, commonly called Numphaea pygmaea, are even used for landscaping home aquariums. Therefore, to accommodate the kids on the site, you can get by with a relatively small container of water. For dwarf water lilies, a layer of water 30 cm deep is sufficient.
Of course, for more content large varieties you will need a pond with a depth of 50 to 100 cm. The larger the mirror of water, the better for the plants: the floating leaves of an adult water lily bush can occupy several meters of the pond surface area.
Breeders have bred a huge number of varieties of this aquatic perennial, differing mainly in the shade of flowers. The most common of these are:
- "Masaniello" (Masaniello) is a perennial with rounded emerald green leaves and large pink flowers adorned with yellow stamens.
- "Aurora" (Aurora) - graceful reddish-orange flowers.
- "Amabilis" (Amabilis) - pink flowers star-shaped with large yellow stamens.
K. "Masaniello", K. "Aurora", K. "Amabilis" - "Escarboucle" (Carbuncle) - a very bright and decorative red-pink flower.
- "Rene Gerard" (Rene Gerard) - a flower with rounded pinkish petals.
- "Gladstoniana" (Gladstoniana) - snow-white petals and rich yellow stamens.
K. "Escarboucle", K. "Rene Gerard", K. "Gladstoniana" - 'Pygmaea Helvola' (Helvola's Pygmy) is a miniature cultivar with purple-green leaves and cream flowers not exceeding 5 cm in diameter.
- "Fire Crest" (Fire Comb) - star-shaped light pink flowers and dark emerald leaves.
- "Froebelii" (Frobeli) - bright red flowers with orange stamens.
K. "Pygmaea Helvola", K. "Fire Crest", K. "Froebelii" - "Ellisiana" (Ellisiana) - a compact variety with bright red-pink flowers.
- "Texas Dawn" (Dawn in Texas) - fragrant yellow flowers with a large number of petals.
- "Pink Sensation" (Pink Sensation) - pink cupped flowers with bright yellow stamens.
K. "Ellisiana", K. "Texas Dawn", K. "Pink Sensation" Landing
The most simple and effective method reproduction of water lilies - division of the root. As a rule, it is in the form of a water lily root that is sold in specialized flower shops. The culture grows rapidly and any gardener who grows nymphs is forced to limit the plant population by pruning the roots.
Regardless of the origin of the plant, it is best to plant a water lily in the spring, before the start of summer. During this period, the water is already warming up, the sun is shining brightly and working on fresh air becomes easy and enjoyable. In addition, the overwintered root of the plant does not yet have time to release numerous shoots and the plant practically does not suffer.
It should be noted that there are two different ways of planting nymphs. Water lilies are placed either directly in the bottom soil, or in a separate container immersed in a pond.
The choice of landing type depends on whether the nymphs are able to exist without outside interference in your pond. Year-round habitation and wintering in a freezing pond can only be transferred by a very unpretentious hybrid, and then only when the root system is placed at a depth exceeding the freezing point.
[!] The roots of the white water lily, which lives in central Russia, are able to survive the complete freezing of water, so that in the spring, after the ice melts, as if nothing had happened, start up young shoots.
Landing in a separate container, usually called a basket because of the lattice structure, allows you to pay more attention to the water beauties of the nymphs:
- Feed the plant by removing the container from the water and adding nutrients;
- In spring, to stimulate growth, place at a shallow depth, warmed by the sun;
- Raise to the surface and take care of the bush: cut the overgrown root, remove dead shoots and various debris;
- Remove for wintering or lower to a non-freezing depth, before the onset of cold weather.
As a substrate, it is not at all necessary to use natural soil like river silt. Water lilies grow superbly on a mixture of organic chernozem humus and sand. When placing the soil in the container, you should try to limit the washing out of the soil with water, cover the side holes with mesh material, and pour pebbles on top.
Regardless of the chosen method of planting, the water lily root is placed on the very surface of the soil with living buds up and pressed down with a load, such as a stone. After a short time, the nymph takes out adventitious roots, clings to the ground and begins to grow young shoots.
Wintering
Wintering is one of the most crucial stages in the cultivation of water lilies, which strongly depends on the climate, the individual characteristics of the reservoir and the stability of the culture.
Wintering in a pond is always a risk. To increase the chances of success, it is better to move the container with a water lily to a depth of at least a meter, and after the formation of ice, cover the reservoir with a thick layer of loose snow.
If it is not possible to leave the water lily for the winter in a pond, the root, together with the basket and soil, must be removed and packed in a sealed plastic bag with water. It is most convenient to store a nymphaeum prepared in this way in a cellar or basement. In no case should the root be allowed to dry out, and also maintain a constant temperature of about 5 ° C.
In such a kind of storage chamber, the water lily waits for the onset of spring, so that with the first warming of the water, it can go to gain strength in a well-lit and heated shallow section of the reservoir.
Diseases and pests
Among the dangers that threaten water lilies, it is difficult to single out something special. Nymphaeums like aphids, pond snails and other herbivorous insects to enjoy the delicate greenery. To save the plant from damage, either regular collection of pests or dressing the exposed surface parts of the plant with insecticides can.
Family: water lilies, or nymphaeous (Nymphaeáceae).
Motherland
The water lily plant is found in water bodies of temperate, subtropical and tropical regions of the entire globe.
The form: herbaceous plant.
Description
Water lily (water lily, nymphea) - a genus of herbaceous, including many species. The water lily is an exceptionally ornamental flower, many species are cultivated. Water lily leaves are rounded, green or reddish in color, floating freely on the surface of the water. Water lily flowers - floating or raised above the water on long straight peduncles. Different types of water lilies differ greatly both in the depth of immersion and in the diameter of flowers and leaves - from dwarf to completely huge.
The largest water lily in the world is the Amazonian water lily Victoria regia (Victória), named after the beautiful English queen. This is a giant water lily with leaves up to two meters in diameter, supporting the weight of a teenager (up to 50 kilograms) and amazing flowers that change color and aroma.
Winter-hardy types of water lilies
Water lily pure white , or white water lily (N. candida) - a plant with powerful rhizomes and large (about 20 centimeters in diameter) dark green leaves. It blooms throughout the summer, but it is not the most abundantly flowering of water lilies. The flowers are about 10 centimeters in diameter, snow-white, in accordance with the name, in color. The stamens are bright yellow. A separate nymphaeum flower of this species lives 3-5 days.
(N. alba) - differs in larger (up to 15 centimeters in diameter) flowers and leaves (about 30 centimeters). The leaves of the water lily are white, dark green on top and reddish on the back. Creamy flowers, pink and red forms are found. The root of the white water lily is located horizontally. White water lilies grow at depths from 50 centimeters to 2.5 meters.
Water lily tetrahedral (N. tetragona) - medium-sized nymphaeum with white or pinkish flowers up to 5 centimeters in diameter.
Tuberous water lily , or knobby (N. tuberosa) - a large white-flowered water lily with fast-growing horizontal rhizomes. Depths over a meter are preferred.
fragrant water lily (N. odorata) - very fragrant water lily. Rhizomes are horizontal, fast-growing. The flowers are white or pink. Prefers depths from 40 to 80 centimeters. A fragrant water lily leaf is bright green in color, reddish on the back.
Water lily pygmy (N. pygmaea) - a water lily, characterized by a very small size. Flowers in diameter are only 2-2.5 centimeters. The leaves are oval, dark green, crimson on the back. Landing depth - up to 30 centimeters. Suitable even for very small ponds.
Water lily hybrid (N. hybridum) - the combined name of garden species and varieties obtained by breeding. Includes a wide variety of shapes and colors.
Non-hardy species
Water lily blue (N. саerulea) - with fragrant blue or pinkish flowers. The blue water lily is distinguished by narrow pointed petals. Other names for the species are the Nile water lily.
water lily spotted , or tiger water lily (N. maculata) - an interesting species with variegated underwater leaves. The flowers are white, small (5-6 centimeters in diameter). Nymphea brindle blooms at night.
Growing conditions
Water lily is a flower that prefers sunny ponds. There are varieties that are quite shade-tolerant, but even for them, full sunlight is desirable for at least a few hours a day. It is necessary to provide the water lily with opportunities for development: the area of \u200b\u200bthe water surface that the nymphaeum will occupy can be several square meters (depending on the species and variety). In addition, water lilies prefer bodies of water with stagnant or slowly flowing water. Accordingly, where water lilies grow, there should not be fountains and waterfalls. At strong current the plant will develop more slowly, flowering will be weakened.
Application
Water lily (water lily) is used for landscaping. A water lily pond will always look beautiful and will add natural charm and a special charm to any garden. In July-August, when water lilies bloom, your site will look unusually exotic. Of course, a lake with water lilies will look especially picturesque in.
Non-hardy types of water lilies are used mainly in aquariums. However, it is quite possible to grow water lilies of non-hardy species in garden ponds, provided that wintering is provided for them.
Care
In summer, the nymphaeum practically does not require care. You can occasionally feed water lilies with granular fertilizers. One of the most important points is to ensure the wintering of water lilies. In a large body of water, winter-hardy species of water lilies can winter without any special shelter. If the water from the pond descends for the winter, you can cover the water lilies with peat, sawdust, and fallen leaves. Another option is to place containers of water lilies in buckets of water and take them down to the basement. Non-hardy species of water lilies overwinter in aquariums or other containers in a warm and bright room.
reproduction
Reproduction of water lilies is possible by segments of rhizomes, as well as by seed. Water lily seeds are sown in the soil at the bottom of the reservoir or in containers immersed in water. You can pre-sprout the seeds of the nymph in warm water. As a soil for nymphs, garden soil mixed with clay and sand is used. In this case, the landing of the nymphs in the reservoir is carried out in May - early June.
Rhizomes for division are selected with buds. It is advisable to immediately plant a separated piece of rhizome in a pond or maintain it during wet until the landing. Delenki are planted horizontally and sprinkled. After that, the container is placed in the reservoir. It is recommended in the spring to place the container with the plant in a shallow place, and then, as it grows, move it to a greater depth.
You can learn more about how to plant water lilies, as well as growing nymphs, from a special one.
Diseases and pests
Water lily (nymphea) - a plant that rarely gets sick. Of the pests, aphids can affect the water lily. As a rule, the plant itself does not suffer, but the buds can die without opening. The easiest way to wash off pests is with a water jet from a hose. Use insecticides in the pond should be extremely careful not to poison the water and not disturb its microflora.
Popular varieties
Varieties of water lily dwarf:
Tuberous water lily varieties:
- - bright pink water lily with large flowers.
Sin .: Grass overcomer, white overcomer, white water lily, European white water lily, white lotus, quicksand, balabolka, mermaid color or mermaid flower, water poppy or water poppy, white hens, bliskalka, water companion, beaver, water color, nymphea, big lapushnik.
Perennial rhizomatous aquatic plant with round, large, floating leaves and luxurious snow-white flowers. The white water lily not only predicts the weather, but also has an anti-inflammatory, soothing, antipyretic, analgesic, hemostatic effect.
The plant is poisonous!
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flower formula
The formula of a white water lily flower: * Ch4L15-31T75-110P14-20.
In medicine
White water lily is not a domestic pharmacopoeial plant, but is widely used in folk medicine and homeopathy. Lily rhizomes are used by traditional healers as an anti-inflammatory, hemostatic, diuretic, choleretic, astringent, antihypertensive agent inside for dysentery, cystitis and diseases excretory system(kidney and bladder), hepatitis, with some gynecological diseases, tuberculosis, in order to increase lactation in women, externally in the treatment of long-healing purulent wounds. European folk medicine recognizes the rhizomes of the white water lily in the form of water decoctions and oil extracts as an effective tool in the treatment of tumors of various origins. The alkaloid nymphein in the composition of the roots of the water lily affects the central nervous system, the glycoside nymphalin has a calming, analgesic and hypnotic effect. When crushed, water lily roots act like mustard plasters, if this remedy is applied externally, applied to inflamed areas of the skin in order to reduce the severity of the inflammatory process.
A decoction or extract of the leaves of an aquatic plant is used for, in homeopathy - for diseases of the kidneys, intestines and hypertension. Water lily flowers are used as a sedative, antipyretic, hypnotic and analgesic. Chinese folk healers use all parts of the aquatic plant in the form of various decoctions, tinctures, believing that the white water lily brings youth, health and beauty. The flowers of the plant have a sedative, astringent, antipyretic and analgesic effect. In the form of tinctures, poultices, they were used as an antispasmodic for myalgia, neuralgia, used for acne, freckles. Infusions of water lily flowers are effective for jaundice, they were used as a sedative for painful pollutions, antipyretic, to quench thirst in patients. As an external analgesic, baths with an infusion of water lily flowers are used, and water infused with plant petals is used for lotions and washes as an effective cosmetic remedy for sunburn, acne and freckles.
Contraindications and side effects
Despite the beneficial properties of the white water lily, contraindications to its use are individual intolerance, hypotension, since preparations based on the rhizome of the plant reduce blood pressure. The plant should be used carefully, adhering to dosages, not forgetting the presence of a significant amount of tannins and bitter substances in the composition. The white water lily is also not recommended for pregnant and lactating women, children under the age of 18, the plant is poisonous.
In cooking
Water lily seeds, roasted and ground in a mortar, are used to make a drink that tastes like coffee. The rhizomes of the plant contain up to 20% starch; in dried form, the roots are ground into flour, from which bread and cakes are baked. Fried rhizomes in vegetable oil are also served as a side dish or an independent dish.
In cosmetology
A decoction of fresh white water lily petals is used as a cosmetic remedy for whitening and cleansing the face of acne, freckles, age spots. An infusion of the flowers of the plant rinses the head in order to activate hair growth.
In other areas
in landscape design.
Hybrid winter-hardy varieties of water lilies are often used to decorate garden ponds. The choice of a plant for a pond in a garden should be determined by the size of the reservoir, that is, water lilies should occupy no more than half of the surface of the reservoir. The most popular forms of the water white water lily: the Colorado variety - is distinguished by a pale pink shade of flowers and large round leaves, Yellow Sensation - with olive leaves and a light yellow shade of large flowers with orange anthers, Marliatsia Gromotella - a variety primrose, whose creamy flowers with yellow anthers open at the end of May.
In the economy.
The rhizomes of plants have long been used as an effective remedy for the extermination of cockroaches indoors.
Classification
White water lily (lat. Nymphaéa álba) is an aquatic perennial plant, a type species of the genus Water lily or Nymphaéa (Nymphaéa), belonging to the Water Lily family. Only three types of water lilies out of the existing 53 species are found on the European territory: pure white water lily (Nymphaea candida Presl), in Siberia there is a small water lily (Nymphaea tetragona Georgi) and the most common white water lily.
Botanical description
The white water lily is an aquatic perennial plant, the height of which reaches 2 meters. The rhizome is fleshy, thick, dark brown in color, attached to the bottom of the reservoir by adventitious roots. The rhizome consists of a whole system of air channels that keep the aquatic plant on the surface of the water, provide enough oxygen for breathing, and also give strength to the tissues, in order to avoid possible ruptures from a strong gust of wind and current. The leaves are large, round-oval, with a deep notch at the base and pointed, isosceles lobes, located on long cylindrical petioles. The color of the leaves changes with the age of the plant itself: at a young age, the leaves are reddish in color, with time they become dark green above, reddish-purple below.
In July-August, green buds appear on the surface of the water on long peduncles. The flowers of the white water lily are the largest (up to 15 cm in diameter), fragrant, white, solitary. The flower is bisexual (has female and male organs), flowering duration is 3-4 days. The calyx of the water lily flower is four-leaved, green, the corolla consists of white petals. There are many stamens, the stigma of the pistil is many-parted, radiant. After fertilization, the petals fall off, and the pistil grows, turning under water into a barrel-shaped fruit-box, inside which numerous powdery seeds ripen. The flowering of the water lily is a very interesting and unforgettable sight. The original flowers open instantly, right before your eyes, and throughout the day they turn with the movement of the sun. Toward evening, the buds close and are completely immersed in water. In windy or rainy weather, water lily flowers do not appear above the surface of the water, its buds are closed. This feature of the plant allows you to determine the weather: if the buds do not open in the morning, bad weather must be expected in the evening, and vice versa, water lily flowers opened in the morning portend a sunny day. Anglers have their own sign: the fish left those places where the flowers of the water lily did not open in the morning. The formula of the white water lily flower is *Ch4L15-31T75-110P14-20.
Spreading
The white water lily is common in Europe, including in Western and Eastern Siberia, in the European part of the Russian Federation, the Urals, in Ukraine and Belarus, the North Caucasus and Central Asia. This plant is an inhabitant of water bodies (lakes, ponds, slowly flowing or standing rivers, the depth of which is not more than 2 meters) of the forest and steppe zones. Regardless of the water level, even with its significant decrease, the water lily will actively bloom and bear fruit. Recently, the white water lily can be found in nature less and less, the plant is listed in the Red Book. The water lily is also grown as an ornamental plant in garden ponds.
Distribution regions on the map of Russia.
Procurement of raw materials
For medicinal purposes, almost the entire plant is used: rhizomes, flowers, leaves and seeds of the white water lily. Stocks of medicinal raw materials of water lilies are limited, therefore it is recommended to carefully use existing plants, leave up to half of the specimens in the reservoir. The harvesting of the rhizomes of an aquatic plant begins at the beginning of the flowering of the water lily and until autumn. The roots are mined from the bottom of the reservoir with the help of hooks, then they are cleaned of leaf petioles, small roots. The rhizomes are washed well and cut into roughly equal pieces. Raw materials are dried in the attic in a well-ventilated area, avoiding direct sunlight.
Flowers or water lily buds are harvested from June to August, that is, during the flowering period of the plant. Given the peculiarities of opening the buds, they must be collected before 7 am and no later than 5 pm, before immersing the cups in water. For medicinal purposes, water lily flowers are used fresh, but sometimes they are dried. A shady ventilated place is suitable for drying flowers.
White water lily leaves are harvested at any time of the day from early spring until the onset of cold weather. Dry raw materials in a well-ventilated area. Seeds are collected from the surface of the water (they float in specific "capsules"), the fruits of the plant are under water. Seeds and fruits are dried in the shade under the same conditions as other parts of the plant.
Chemical composition
The rhizomes of the white water lily are rich in starch (up to 49%), protein (8%), contain tannins (tannins), alkaloid nymphein, glycosides nymphalin and myricitrin, gallic and tartaric acid, up to 20% sugars, resin, bitterness, ammonia, gum, essential oil. In the petals of a white water lily, a glycoside nymphalin was found, which can enhance cardiac activity, flavonoids (glycosides of kaempferol and quercetin). In the seeds of the plant, tannins are almost 10 times less than in the roots; essential oils and fatty acids are also found. Water lily leaves contain oxalic acid, flavonoids, tannins.
Pharmacological properties
The glycoside nymphalin in the composition of the white water lily has an analgesic and hypnotic effect on the human body. The alkaloid nymphein, found in the rhizomes of the plant, acts on the central nervous system and has a psychoactive effect. The leaves contain the flavone glycoside myricitrin, which stimulates cardiac activity. Tannins are effective against staphylococci and salmonella, have an anti-inflammatory and softening effect on the digestive tract. Flavonoids in the composition of the petals of the nymph help to reduce the fragility of small capillary vessels, regulate blood pressure and the work of the heart muscle. Resins have a laxative, antibacterial effect.
Application in traditional medicine
The use of white water lilies traditional medicine practices for various diseases. For medicinal purposes, the rhizomes, leaves and flowers of the plant are used. Rhizomes in the form of a decoction or alcoholic tincture are used as an astringent, applied externally for rheumatism, for wounds as a hemostatic agent, for inflammatory processes skin, for the treatment of diarrhea, cystitis, dysentery and gonorrhea, for gynecological problems, in particular for whites. Often, water lily roots are used as mustard plasters. They drink a decoction for tuberculosis, as well as to increase lactation in lactating women. Infusion from the leaves of a white water lily heals ulcers in the oral cavity. Outwardly, the leaves of the plant are used for boils, skin inflammations, neoplasms, dropsy, abscesses, wounds as an anti-inflammatory agent. Tincture of leaves and stems is indicated for diseases of the kidneys and bladder, intestinal ulcers, a decoction of leaves and roots treat liver diseases, hepatitis. Odolen-grass flowers are used as a hypnotic, analgesic for neuralgia, rheumatism, soothing for neurosis, depression, antipyretic and emollient. Since ancient times, water lily decoctions have been used to treat cramps and get rid of toothache. A decoction or tincture of the seeds was used by singers to strengthen their voices. A decoction of the roots in beer is effective for hair loss. Fresh or canned water lily juice removes freckles and pigmentation on the face, whitens the skin. Water infused with water lily petals is an excellent cosmetic product if used for baths.
History reference
The white water lily is the oldest representative of aquatic plants. It is believed that this plant has been growing since the time of the dinosaurs. AT ancient Russia knew that the water lily or "overcome-grass", as the peasants called it, had useful properties and used its roots, petals and leaves for medicinal purposes. Dr. Avicenna also noted healing properties water lily, using a tincture of roots for neoplasms of the spleen, and a decoction of seeds or leaves for poorly healing wounds and ulcers. It was believed that an aquatic plant protects from all troubles and misfortunes, defeats witchcraft and evil spirits. The water lily has long been used by magicians as a love potion, the plant was considered by the people as a symbol of mercy, beauty and purity. There is a belief that fabulous creatures nymphs and elves live on the petals of a water lily. Our ancestors called the water lily the "flower of the mermaids", because the long rhizome resembled a tail, and the white flower is the very body of a mermaid. One of the weeks of June was called "mermaid". The Slavs believed that these days mermaids turn from white water lilies into simple-haired maidens. In the days of the mermaid week, the girls were afraid to go swimming, they said - "the mermaids will tickle." Decoctions from the rhizomes of the water lily were once included in the diet of the monks, as these drinks pacify, soothe and dull the sexual desire. At the monasteries there were large reservoirs with beautiful nymphaeums, the monks looked after them.
There are many legends about the origin of the plant in the world. The ancient Greeks believed that a water lily is a white nymph, which, due to unrequited love for Hercules, turned into a snow-white flower - a water lily. North American Indians believe that the water lily flower was formed from the sparks of the Polar and Evening Stars during a collision, during a dispute over who will catch the arrow of the great Indian leader launched into the sky. An Italian legend says that water lilies are the children of the blond beauty Countess Melinda and the ugly swamp king who kidnapped her. A North German legend says that water lilies grew on the spot where mermaids died at the hands of an evil nyxa (mermaid) who lived in a pond.
The white water lily is a good predictor of the weather: its flowers close before rain or buds do not appear at all on the surface of the water before bad weather. The buds open on a sunny day with sunrise and open until about 6 pm.
The origin of the Latin name of the water lily is also associated with legends and tales. The biologist Carl Linnaeus once collected legends about this graceful plant: the name “white nymphaeum” is a consequence of Linnaeus’s passion for the legend of the nymph, rejected by Hercules, and soon turned by the gods into a charming water lily. So the water lily is white in Latin - white nymphaeum. The plant acquired the poetic name "water lily" because of the fruit similar in shape to the jug.
Literature
1. Maznev N. Highly effective medicinal plants. Big Encyclopedia: Litres, 2015. - 370 p.
2. Wild edible plants / Ed. acad. V. A. Keller; Academy of Sciences of the USSR; Moscow nerd. garden and Institute of History mater. culture them. N. Ya. Marra. - M.: b. i., 1941. - S. 8. - 40 p.
3. Encyclopedic reference book. Plant treatment. - M.: "Publishing house "ANS", 2005. - 1024 p.
Water lilies, or nymphs, are aquatic plants from the genus of perennial herbaceous plants. Belong to the family of water lilies or nymphs. The genus of these plants is distributed in the temperate and tropical zones of the northern and southern hemispheres. Species that bloom especially beautifully are used for cultural purposes.
Water lily features
In the genus is about fifty types, which grow in places with running water, but a slow current. Water lilies are very widespread, from tropical equatorial latitudes to the forest tundra belt. There are species that winter in freezing waters.
If you look at the water lily in the photographs, you will see that their stems are powerful rhizomes that can be immersed in the ground horizontally or look like a tuber. A large number of anchor roots go down from the tuber or rhizome nodes, which, in turn, hold the water lily in the substrate, and leaves and flower stalks grow towards the surface.
There are great differences between underwater leaves and those that float on the surface. In underwater leaves, the form is broadly lanceolate, membranous and looks like a cap, which serves to hide the buds and developing surface leaves. The surface part of the plant appears on the surface only in the summer. Emersed leaves are heart-shaped, rounded or elliptical in shape, on which a basal notch is pronounced and have a dense, leathery surface. The size depends on the type and variety. The coloring is also diverse - green, reddish-burgundy and even motley, due to which the popularity of using them for decoration is growing.
Passes through all vegetative parts of the plant many air channels. This allows the water lily to both breathe and stay afloat. In addition, there are many sclereid cells in the canals. It is still not known for certain what they are intended for. Some say that the plant is not eaten by snails, others that they strengthen the tissues of the water lily to protect it from damage.
Flowering nymphs
Water lilies bloom at different times, depending on the place of growth. Pictures that are common on the Internet give an idea of the beauty of flowering water lilies. northern plants start blooming in early summer, and the southern ones in late spring. All nymphs have interesting feature, they close their flowers in the evening or morning and submerge them under water.
In inclement weather, they may not appear on the surface at all. The flower of the water lily (as it is popularly called) has the correct symmetrical shape and grows singly. It is clearly visible in the pictures. It has a long flexible pedicel and a double perianth. The size is from three to thirty centimeters, depending on the species. The flower exudes a strong fragrance that attracts insects.
Reproduction of the white water lily
Flower reproduction is unique and happens like this:
- The pollinated flower sinks to the bottom, where a berry-like multi-seeded leaflet fruit ripens.
- It contains about one and a half thousand small, black seeds, which, after the berry is destroyed, rush to the surface, as they have a mucous membrane and special floats.
- For some time they stay on the surface of the water, where they are carried by the current or eaten by birds and fish because of their similarity to caviar.
- The surviving seeds germinate, sinking to the bottom.
It is worth noting that seed propagation is not the only and far from the main way of breeding nymphs. They mainly reproduce by rhizomes.
- White.
- Yellow.
- Red.
- Golden.
- Water lily "Victoria".
White water lily (see photo in the gallery) is one of the few winter-hardy nymphs. AT natural conditions grows in open areas European, Asian and African water bodies. The leaves of the white flower are large, up to thirty centimeters, dark green in color and milky white in color with flowers, with a light aroma and up to fifteen centimeters in diameter.
Snow-white nymphea (pictures below) - grows in the region of central Russia, strongly resembles the species described above. The differences are in the shape of the leaf and a slightly smaller flower, but with a strong aroma.
Planting and fertilizing nymphs
The best time to plant water lilies is beginning of May, all summer and all September. It is permissible to plant a flower immediately in the substrate at the bottom of the reservoir, and in small tanks it is very convenient to plant in containers. With this landing, it is easier to transplant or clean for the winter. Landing is best done in low, wide containers with drainage slots.
When planting water lilies silt is used taken at the bottom of any reservoir, although this does not play a big role. Old compost mixed with coarse sand and garden soil is more effective. Fertilizer will be bone meal, which is usually mixed with soil to prevent it from being washed away with water. Although in this case it quickly turns into minerals, dissolves in water and eventually leads to its flowering. The ideal option is to mix fertilizer with clay and place under the rhizomes.
white water lily flower
