Nymphaea alba

Life-forms

Classification System: APG IV

Superregnum: Eukaryota
Regnum: Plantae
Cladus: Angiosperms
Classis: Unassigned
Ordo: Nymphaeales

Familia: Nymphaeaceae
Genus: Nymphaea
Subgenus: N. subg. Nymphaea
Sectio: N. sect. Nymphaea
Species: Nymphaea alba
Subspecies: N. a. subsp. alba – N. a. subsp. occidentalis
Name

Nymphaea alba L., Sp. Pl.: 510 (1753).
Synonyms

Homotypic
Castalia alba (L.) Wood in Rees, Cycl. 6(2): Castalia 2 (1806).
Castalia alba (L.) Greene, Bull. Torrey Bot. Club 15: 85 (1888), comb. superfl.
Castalia speciosa Salisb. in König & Sims, Ann. Bot. 2(1): 72. 1805, nom. illeg.
Leuconymphaea alba (L.) Kuntze, Revis. Gen. Pl. 1: 11 (1891).
Nymphaea officinalis Gater., Pl. Montaub. 99. 1789, nom. illeg.

Hybrids

N. × borealis – N. × colossea – N. × laydekeri – N. × marliacea – N. × robinsonii
Homonyms

Nymphaea alba Walter (1788) = Nymphaea odorata subsp. odorata
Nymphaea alba Nutt. (1818) = Nymphaea odorata subsp. tuberosa (Paine) Wiersema & Hellq.
Nymphaea alba Patrin ex Bunge (1830) = Nymphaea alba subsp. candida (C.Presl) Korshinsky

Distribution
Native distribution areas:

Continental: Europe
Regional: Northern Europe
Denmark, Finland, Great Britain, Ireland, Norway, Sweden.
Regional: Middle Europe
Austria, Belgium, Czechoslovakia, Germany, Hungary, Netherlands, Poland, Switzerland.
Regional: Southwestern Europe
Baleares, Corse, France, Portugal, Sardegna (extinct), Spain.
Regional: Southeastern Europe
Albania, Bulgaria, Greece, Italy, Romania, Sicilia (extinct), Turkey-in-Europe, Yugoslavia.
Regional: Eastern Europe
Belarus, Baltic States, Central European Russia, East European Russia, North European Russia, South European Russia, Northwest European Russia, Ukraine.
Continental: Africa
Regional: Northern Africa
Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia.
Regional: Macaronesia
Azores (introduced).
Continental: Asia-Temperate
Regional: Caucasus
North Caucasus, Transcaucasus.
Regional: Western Asia
Iran, Iraq, Lebanon-Syria, Palestine, Turkey.
Regional: China
China North-Central, China Southeast (introduced).
Continental: Asia-Tropical
Regional: Indian Subcontinent
Bangladesh (introduced), West Himalaya.
Regional: Indo-China
Myanmar (introduced).
Continental: Australasia
Regional: New Zealand
New Zealand North, New Zealand South (introduced).
Continental: Southern America
Regional: Southern South America
Chile Central, Chile South (introduced).

References: Brummitt, R.K. 2001. TDWG – World Geographical Scheme for Recording Plant Distributions, 2nd Edition
References
Primary references

Linnaeus, C. 1753. Species Plantarum. Tomus I: 510. Reference page.

Additional references

Dobignard, A. & Chatelain, C. 2012. Index synonymique de la flore d'Afrique du Nord. Volume 4: Dicotyledoneae: Fabaceae – Nymphaeaceae. Conservatoire et jardin botaniques, Genève, ISBN 978-2-8277-0126-1, 431 pp. PDF Reference page.

Links

Govaerts, R. et al. 2024. Nymphaea alba in Kew Science Plants of the World Online. The Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Published online. Accessed: 2024 August 09. Reference page.
International Plant Names Index. 2024. Nymphaea alba. Published online. Accessed: August 09 2024. Reference page.
Hassler, M. 2024. Nymphaea alba. World Plants: Synonymic Checklists of the Vascular Plants of the World In: Roskovh, Y., Abucay, L., Orrell, T., Nicolson, D., Bailly, N., Kirk, P., Bourgoin, T., DeWalt, R.E., Decock, W., De Wever, A., Nieukerken, E. van, Zarucchi, J. & Penev, L., eds. 2024. Species 2000 & ITIS Catalogue of Life. Published online. Accessed: 2024 August 09. Reference page.
Tropicos.org 2024. Nymphaea alba. Missouri Botanical Garden. Published online. Accessed: 09 August 2024. Reference page.
Find all Wikispecies pages which cite this reference.

Vernacular names
azərbaycanca: Ağ suzanbağı
беларуская (тарашкевіца): Гарлачык белы
беларуская: Гарлачык белы
български: Бяла водна лилия
català: Nenúfar blanc
kaszëbsczi: Wòdnô lelijô
čeština: Leknín bílý
Cymraeg: Alaw
dansk: Hvid Nøkkerose
Deutsch: Weiße Seerose
dolnoserbski: Běła wutka
English: White Water-lily
español: Nenúfar blanco europeo
eesti: Valge vesiroos
euskara: Nenufar zuria
فارسی: نیلوفر آبی سفید
suomi: Isolumme
français: Nénuphar blanc
Frysk: Wite Wetterleelje
galego: Tapadeira
עברית: נימפאה לבנה
hornjoserbsce: Wulka bónčawa
magyar: Fehér tündérrózsa
italiano: Ninfea comune
қазақша: Ақ тұңғиық
Līvõ kēļ: Kik
lietuvių: Paprastoji vandens lelija
latviešu: Baltā ūdensroze
norsk bokmål: Hvit nøkkerose
Nederlands: Witte Waterlelie
norsk nynorsk: Kvit nøkkerose
norsk: Hvit nøkkerose
polski: Grzybienie białe
پنجابی: چٹی اپسرا
português: Ninfeia branca
română: Nufăr alb
русский: Кувшинка белая
srpskohrvatski / српскохрватски: Beli lokvanj
slovenčina: Lekno biele
српски / srpski: Бели локвањ
svenska: Vit näckros
తెలుగు: తెల్ల కలువ
Türkçe: Beyaz nilüfer
українська: Латаття біле
vepsän kel’: Kajageine
中文（简体）: 白睡莲
中文（繁體）: 白睡蓮
中文（臺灣）: 白睡蓮
中文: 白睡莲

Nymphaea alba

Nymphaea alba, the white waterlily, European white water lily or white nenuphar /ˈnɛnjʊfɑːr/, is an aquatic flowering plant in the family Nymphaeaceae.[5][6][7] It is native to North Africa, temperate Asia, Europe and tropical Asia (Jammu and Kashmir).[8]

Since Nymphaceae alba is an aquatic plant, its specialized trichomes are hydropotes, formed at an abaxial surface of the young leaf and packed tightly in the rosette at the rhizome's flattened apex. The rhizomes contain high amounts of carbohydrate and protein.[9]
Description

Nymphaea alba has a white flower that usually blooms during the daytime in most summer. The flower blooms on top of a big rounded green leaf up to 30 cm: both leaves float on the water's surface. At first, the flower bloom is cup-shaped, with a size of around 8 cm, then it rises to 20 cm and becomes star-shaped over time. The flower's petals are arranged in a row, pointing up surrounding several yellow stamens.[10][11] The leaves can be up to 30 cm (12 in) in diameter and take up a spread of 150 cm (59 in) per plant.[7]
Cytology

The chromosome count is n = 42. The genome size is 1950 Mb.[12]
Taxonomy

It was first published and described by Carl Linnaeus in his book 'Species Plantarum', on page 510 in 1753.[8][13] It is the type species of its genus.[14] Within the subgenus Nymphaea subg. Nymphaea it is placed in the section Nymphaea sect. Nymphaea.[8]

The red variety (Nymphaea alba f. rosea) is cultivated from lake Fagertärn ("Fair tarn") in the forest of Tiveden, Sweden, where it was discovered in the early 19th century. The discovery led to large-scale exploitation which nearly made it extinct in the wild before it was protected.[15]

Nymphaea candida J. Presl is sometimes considered a subspecies of N. alba (N. alba L. subsp. candida (J. Presl) Korsh.).[11]
Distribution and habitat

Nymphaea alba is native all over Europe and in parts of North Africa and the Middle East in fresh water.[2][11] In Africa, it is found in Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia. In temperate Asia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Siberia, Iran, Iraq, Palestine and Turkey. It is found in tropical Asia, within the Indian territory of Jammu and Kashmir. Lastly, within Europe, it is found in Belarus, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Russian Federation, Ukraine, Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Netherlands, Poland, Slovakia, Switzerland, Denmark, Finland, Ireland, Norway, Sweden, United Kingdom, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, Italy, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia, France, Portugal and Spain.[8] It has been introduced to the Azores, Bangladesh, Chile, parts of China, Myanmar, and New Zealand.[2]

Nymphaceae alba grows in ponds, ditches, lakes, or canals because these places have still and very slow-moving water. For example, lakes and ponds were created by gravel extraction as fishponds or for livestock, and lakes are just temporary features filled with sediment under and developing fen vegetation. Moreover, canals and ditches are more common than ponds since these are artificial water bodies created for transport or recreation; these places can support wildlife, such as attracting other species of insects or providing a shelter for frogs and early nectar insects.[16]
Phytochemistry

It contains the active alkaloids nupharine and nymphaeine, and is a sedative and an aphrodisiac/anaphrodisiac depending on sources.[citation needed] Although roots and stalks are used in traditional herbal medicine along with the flower, the petals and other flower parts are the most potent. Alcohol can be used to extract the active alkaloids, and it also boosts the sedative effects. The root of the plant was used by monks and nuns for hundreds of years as an anaphrodisiac, being crushed and mixed with wine. In the earliest printed medical textbooks, authors maintained this use, though warning against consuming large and frequent doses.[17]
Cultivation

Nymphaea alba needs plenty of space since it grows up to 4 in tall and 3 to 5 ft wide. This plant performs best under full sun in loamy soil and undisturbed water. The basket covers the plant with a pea shingle placed under the water's surface around 6 to 10 inches, and the lower part of the plant can be twice the initial planting depth when the plant is formed. This plant can be fed during the growing season by proprietary aquatic fertilizer.[18]

Water Lilly is valuable and nutritious when people can use the peduncle and young leaf for vegetables, and rhizomes can be used as food supplements; moreover, local people can use different parts of the plant for various purposes, such as making herbal medicine to treat diarrhea, piles or cough, or using as a fragrance and ornamental properties. Therefore, Nymphaceae alba (water lily) is collected in the wild and displayed in the market.[19]

References

Akhani, H. (2014). "Nymphaea alba". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2014: e.T164237A63306122. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2014-2.RLTS.T164237A63306122.en. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
"Nymphaea alba L." Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 11 January 2024.
"Nymphaea alba subsp. alba". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 11 January 2024.
"Nymphaea alba subsp. occidentalis (Ostenf.) Hyl". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 11 January 2024.
"nenuphar". The Chambers Dictionary (9th ed.). Chambers. 2003. ISBN 0-550-10105-5.
"nenuphar". Lexico. Archived from the original on 2022-04-01. Retrieved 2022-04-01.
"White Water Lily (Nymphaea odorata)". www.dnr.state.mn.us. Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Retrieved 18 August 2015.
"Taxon: Nymphaea alba L." Retrieved 23 October 2017.
Kordyum, Elizabeth; Mosyakin, Sergei; Ivanenko, Galina; Ovcharenko, Yulia; Brykov, Vasyl (2021-02-01). "Hydropotes of young and mature leaves in Nuphar lutea and Nymphaea alba (Nymphaeaceae): Formation, functions and phylogeny". Aquatic Botany. 169: 103342. doi:10.1016/j.aquabot.2020.103342. ISSN 0304-3770.
"Nymphaea alba (White Water Lily)". www.gardenia.net.
Anderberg, Anders (1996). "Vit näckros". www.linnaeus.nrm.se (in Swedish). Swedish Museum of Natural History. Retrieved 18 August 2015.
Chen, Fei; Liu, Xing; Yu, Cuiwei; Chen, Yuchu; Tang, Haibao; Zhang, Liangsheng (2017). "Water lilies as emerging models for Darwin's abominable mystery" (PDF). Horticulture Research. 4: 17051. doi:10.1038/hortres.2017.51. PMC 5626932. PMID 28979789.
"Nymphaeaceae Nymphaea alba L." .pni.org. Retrieved 23 October 2017.
Missouri Botanical Garden. (n.d.-af). Nymphaea L. Tropicos. Retrieved March 3, 2025, from https://www.tropicos.org/name/40029644
Wallsten, Maud; Thorson, Jan; Werlemark, Gun (2005). "Härstammar Claude Monets röda näckrosor från Fagertärn i Närke?" [Are Claude Monet's red water lilies derived from Fagertärn in Närke?] (PDF). Svensk Botanisk Tidskrift (in Swedish) (99:3–4): 146–153. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 18 August 2015.
"White water-lily | The Wildlife Trusts". www.wildlifetrusts.org. Retrieved 2024-11-19.
Nielsen (1979). Giftplanter [Poisonous plants]. Gyldendals grønne håndbøger (in Norwegian). Cappelen. pp. 68–69. ISBN 8701318411.
"Nymphaea alba (White Water Lily)". Gardenia. Retrieved 2024-11-28.
""A Journal of Environment and Biodiversity"" (PDF). Nymphaea - a potential wetland plant in Manipur, North-East India. 4 (2): 29–33. April 2013 – via NeBio.