- Nuphar polycephalum
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Nuphar polysepalum Scientific classification Kingdom: Plantae (unranked): Angiosperms (unranked): modified Eudicots Order: Nymphaeales Family: Nymphaeaceae Genus: Nuphar Species: N. polysepalum Binomial name Nuphar polysepalum The Yellow Pond lily (Nuphar polysepalum) is a distinct pond lily.[1] The Nuphar is Greek for “water lily” and polysepalum means many sepals. They are commonly found in muddy and shallow ponds. These lilies can be easily recognized by their large floating leaves and bright yellow blossoms.
Contents
Distribution
Nuphar polysepalum are commonly found in shallow ponds and streams from northern Alaska and Yukon southward to California.
Habitat and Ecology
The yellow pond lilies reproduce by both seed and rhizome. The rhizomes are underground stems that are thick and fleshy. These rhizomes are hard to pry since they are submerged in mud and are difficult to dig. The leaves of these pond lilies float on the water surface. These leaves have an external waxy coating which makes the leaf waterproof and thus allows the leaf stomata to freely breathe. These leaves provide shelter for fish. The yellow “petals” like structures of the flower are the sepals and the true petals of these lilies are hidden near the stamens (Norma W. Dudiak).[1] Individuals of this species are , flowers that contain about 7 to 9 bright yellow petal-like sepals. Inside the flower from top view anthers can be seen as red and true petals are wedge-shaped and are hidden by the stamen. The glossy green leaves are about 12 inches long and remain floated on pond surface. The rhizomes are the underground stems which are round and submerged in mud.[1]
Flowers and fruit
Flowers of “Nuphar polysepalum”, is a bright yellow flower with petal-like sepals surrounding the anther and stamen.[1]
Usage
Food
The flower contains edible seeds that pop like popcorn, they can be steamed as a vegetable, can be dried and ground for flour, or can be cooked like oatmeal.[1]
Medicinal
Leaves and rootstocks have been used for ulcerous skin conditions and swelling. The rootstock infusion is used as a traditional gargle for mouth, sore throats and douche for vaginal inflammation. The rootstock is prepared from two tablespoon chopped rhizome with one cup boiling water .[1]
Other Usage
The pond lily produces alcohol without any human effort. It has been determined by the Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Wildflowers that when the oxygen is lost in the mud where stems grow then a low amounts of alcohol is produced instead of carbon dioxide. In Turkey, a beverage called pufer cicegi is distilled from the pond lily flowers.[1]
References
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