white water-lily

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• European white water-lily
• Waterlily
• White Water-Lily
• European White Waterlily
• European Water-lily
• White Waterlily

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Leuconymphaea alba

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae within the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. It is further classified under the subclass Magnoliidae, the order Nymphaeales, and the family Nymphaeaceae. Finally, its taxonomic placement concludes within the genus Nymphaea.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant is widely distributed across several regions in Northern Europe. It can be found growing in the natural habitats of Denmark. Its presence is also documented throughout the landscapes of Finland. Furthermore, the species is common within the territories of Great Britain and Ireland. Finally, its geographical range extends into the waters of Norway.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Nymphaea alba is characterized by its strictly aquatic habitat, where it thrives in still or slow-moving freshwater environments. This species is typically found in shallow ponds, lakes, and the margins of slow rivers, where its root systems can anchor in the soft sediment of the bottom. In terms of vertical distribution, the plant occupies a specific altitudinal niche, ranging from sea level up to a maximum elevation of 200 m AMSL. This low-elevation preference ensures that it remains within the warmer, nutrient-rich lowland water bodies necessary for its growth and reproductive cycles.

Elevational range max:

200 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

aquatic

Life history

The life history of Nymphaea alba is characterized by a perennial lifecycle, allowing the plant to establish long-term presence within its aquatic habitat. As a hydrophyte, it is specifically adapted to living in water, utilizing floating leaves to maximize sunlight absorption while its roots remain anchored in the substrate. The species functions as a cryptophyte, meaning its perennable organs are protected from harsh conditions, often beneath the water or sediment. Furthermore, it exhibits a deciduous nature, with its foliage retreating or dying back seasonally in response to environmental changes or temperature drops.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

hydrophyte

Life form :

cryptophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Nymphaea alba is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb and forb. This species is strictly aquatic in nature and functions as an independent organism, meaning it is not a parasite. As a self-supporting plant, it does not exhibit climbing habits such as lianas or vines, and it is classified as terrestrial in terms of its epiphytic status. The plant's dimensions vary significantly, with a minimum height of 0.5 m and a maximum height reaching up to 2.5 m, although the mean height is recorded at 0.03 m.

Aquatic :

aquatic

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

2.5 m

Plant height mean:

0.03 m

Plant height min:

0.5 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Nymphaea alba is characterized by its specialized adaptations to aquatic environments, utilizing a C3 photosynthetic pathway to facilitate carbon fixation. As a non-carnivorous species, it relies on traditional nutrient uptake from the water and sediment rather than prey capture. The plant's foliar morphology is optimized for surface flotation, with leaves exhibiting a mean size of 393.42 cm² and a mean width of 25 cm, which stays consistent at its maximum and minimum recorded width of 25 cm. The leaf dimensions vary significantly to accommodate different growth stages, with a mean length of 17.5 cm, ranging from a minimum of 10 cm to a maximum of 25 cm. Furthermore, the plant maintains a mean Specific Leaf Area (SLA) of 147 cm²/g, reflecting a structural balance between leaf thickness and surface area that supports its floating lifestyle and photosynthetic efficiency.

Carnivory :

non-carnivorous

Leaf length max:

25 cm

Leaf length mean:

17.5 cm

Leaf length min:

10 cm

Leaf size mean:

393.42 cm²

Leaf width mean:

25 cm

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

147 cm²/g

Reproduction

The reproduction of Nymphaea alba is characterized by a primarily sexual process through bisexual flowers, as asexual reproduction is absent. The flowering period begins in June and extends through September. These large flowers, which range in length from 10 cm to a maximum of 20 cm, rely on biotic pollination, specifically utilizing an insect pollination syndrome. Notably, self-fertilization is absent in this species. Following successful pollination, the plant produces fleshy, indehiscent fruit categorized as a berry. These fruits typically measure between 2.5 cm and 3 cm in length, with a mean length of 2.75 cm. Each fruit is prolific, containing between 101 and 1000 seeds. The seeds themselves are uniform in their dimensions, with a mean length of 3 mm and a maximum volume of 8.2 mm³, while maintaining a mean mass of 0.002451 g. Dispersal is achieved through a hydrochorous syndrome, where the seeds are distributed by water.

Dehiscence :

indehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

hydrochorous

Flower length max:

20 cm

Flower length min:

10 cm

Flowering time :

Jun

Flowering time :

Sep

Fruit dryness :

fleshy

Fruit length max:

3 cm

Fruit length mean:

2.75 cm

Fruit length min:

2.5 cm

Fruit type :

berry

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Reproduction asexual :

absent

Reproduction sexual :

bisexual

Seed length mean:

3 mm

Seed mass mean:

0.002451 g

Seed volume max:

8.2 mm³

Seeds_per_fruit :

101-1000

Self fertilization :

absent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Nymphaea alba has 1 reported plant parts identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include flower.

Flower

1. Current computer-aided drug design

Chemicals

Nymphaea alba has 12 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include quercetin, Flavonoids, Gallic acid, Glycosides, Hyperoside.

quercetin

1. Microbial pathogenesis
2. Current computer-aided drug design

Flavonoids

1. Current computer-aided drug design

Gallic acid

1. Journal of separation science

Glycosides

1. Current computer-aided drug design

Hyperoside

1. Microbial pathogenesis

Isokaempferide

1. Microbial pathogenesis

Isoquercetin

1. Microbial pathogenesis

Reynoutrin

1. Microbial pathogenesis

Tannins

1. Current computer-aided drug design

apigenin

1. Microbial pathogenesis

Conditions

Nymphaea alba has 5 reported investigations on conditions identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include cell migration, hepatitis C virus, hypertension, tumor, wound healing.

Cell migration

1. Current computer-aided drug design

Hepatitis c virus

1. Microbial pathogenesis

Hypertension

1. Daru : journal of Faculty of Pharmacy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences

Tumor

1. Asian Pacific journal of tropical medicine

Wound healing

1. Current computer-aided drug design

Preparations

Nymphaea alba has 1 reported preparations identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include Nymphaea alba flower extract.

Nymphaea alba flower extract

1. Current computer-aided drug design