white lotus

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Egyptian lotus
• Egyptian water-lily
• Water Lily
• White egyptian lotus
• White lotus
• White water-lily
• tiger lotus
• Egyptian Lily
• Egyptian Water Lily
• Egyptian white water-lily
• Lotus Lily
• Night Waterlily
• Scared Lotus

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Leuconymphaea lotus
• Castalia lotus

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it is placed in the order Nymphaeales and the family Nymphaeaceae. Finally, its taxonomic identity is completed by its classification under the genus Nymphaea.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a broad geographical distribution that spans across multiple continents. In Southeastern Europe, its presence can be documented in Romania. Moving toward Northern Africa, the species is found within the borders of Egypt. Its range extends significantly into West Tropical Africa, specifically appearing in the nations of Benin and Burkina. Additionally, the distribution continues further west into the country of Gambia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Nymphaea lotus is characterized by its preference for specific aquatic environments, primarily thriving in sheltered water and within swamp ecosystems. This species occupies a wide vertical distribution across various landscapes, with an elevational range that begins at sea level (0 m AMSL) and extends up to a maximum altitude of 1600 m AMSL. Its presence is typically dictated by the availability of still or slow-moving water bodies that provide the necessary stability for its growth within these wetland habitats.

Elevational range max:

1600 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

sheltered water, also swamps

Life history

The life history of Nymphaea lotus is characterized by a perennial lifecycle, allowing the plant to persist through multiple growing seasons within its aquatic habitat. As a specialized hydrophyte, it has evolved to thrive in submerged or floating environments, utilizing its unique morphological adaptations to navigate life in water. This life form enables the plant to maintain stability and nutrient uptake within its ecosystem, ensuring its long-term survival and ability to undergo seasonal cycles of growth and flowering.

Life form :

hydrophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Nymphaea lotus is characterized by its distinct aquatic habit, existing as a specialized aquatic organism that thrives in freshwater environments. As a non-woody herb, it lacks any woody tissue, maintaining a soft, fleshy structure throughout its vegetative parts. Its growth form is classified as a forb, typically featuring floating leaves and long petioles that emerge from submerged rhizomes. The plant is entirely self-supporting in its aquatic medium, requiring no climbing mechanisms such as lianas or vines to maintain its position. Furthermore, it is an independent species, functioning as a non-parasitic organism that does not rely on a host for nutrients. Rather than being an epiphyte, it maintains a terrestrial-based root system anchored in the benthic substrate of its aquatic habitat.

Aquatic :

aquatic

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Nymphaea lotus is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which governs its carbon fixation processes within its aquatic environment. The plant's vegetative structure is defined by its floating leaves, which exhibit significant morphological variability in size. The leaves typically maintain a minimum length of 15 cm and a minimum width of 15 cm, with a mean leaf length recorded at 20.5 cm. As the plant matures, the dimensions of these leaves can expand considerably, reaching a maximum length of 26 cm and a maximum width of 26 cm. Furthermore, regarding its metabolic relationship with soil or water nutrients, the species does not function as a nitrogen fixer, relying instead on the absorption of available nitrogen from its surrounding medium.

Leaf length max:

26 cm

Leaf length mean:

20.5 cm

Leaf length min:

15 cm

Leaf width max:

26 cm

Leaf width min:

15 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Nymphaea lotus is characterized by a highly versatile flowering period that can occur throughout the entire year, spanning from December through November, with the flowering start and duration being notably variable. The floral morphology features blossoms with a length that ranges from a minimum of 2 cm to a maximum of 8 cm. Following pollination, the plant produces fruits that maintain consistent dimensions, typically measuring a mean length of 5 cm (with a minimum and maximum both reaching 5 cm) and a mean width of 4 cm (with a minimum and maximum both reaching 4 cm). The dispersal of these fruits follows a zoochorous syndrome, specifically utilizing endozoochorous mechanisms, where seeds are dispersed after being ingested by animals, ensuring the continuation of the species across its aquatic habitat.

Dispersal syndrome :

zoochorous

Dispersal syndrome :

endozoochorous

Flower length max:

8 cm

Flower length min:

2 cm

Flowering time :

Dec

Fruit length max:

5 cm

Fruit width max:

4 cm

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Nymphaea lotus 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 leaf.

Leaf

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Chemicals

Nymphaea lotus has 9 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Flavonoids, 22-Desoxycarpesterol, 7,22-Ergostadienol, Kaempferol-3-O-galactoside, Nitrites.

Flavonoids

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)

22-Desoxycarpesterol

1. Heliyon

7,22-Ergostadienol

1. Heliyon

Kaempferol-3-O-galactoside

1. Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)

Nitrites

1. Journal of complementary & integrative medicine

Oxacyclohexadecan-2-one

1. Heliyon

Phytosterols

1. Journal of complementary & integrative medicine

Quercetin 3-O-rhamnoside

1. Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)

pyrogallol

1. Heliyon

Activities

Nymphaea lotus has 4 reported activities identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Cytotoxic, Mutagenic, Neuroprotective.

Antioxidant

1. Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)

Cytotoxic

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Mutagenic

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Neuroprotective

1. Journal of complementary & integrative medicine

Medicinal Uses

Nymphaea lotus has 4 reported medicinal uses identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include cancer, anxiety, erectile dysfunction, skin aging.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations