Names and Myths

Nymphaea Classical name for a water-nymph.

odorata Fragrant

Natural history / Folklore

Thick fleshy rhizomes can be eaten following a long period of cooking. The rhizome is antiseptic, emollient, and astringent.³² The leaves, flower buds and tubers are eaten. The tubers have been used in place of potatoes.  Control of water lilies can be achieved by draining a lake in the fall so that the tubers freeze over the winter. Medve & Medve 1990

Description

Flowers June to September. Growing in quiet waters and ponds. Floating leaves often purple or red beneath, with very long petioles arising from edible rhizomes. In N. odorata the petiole is unstriped, in N. tuberosa the petiole is striped.