Nymphaea nouchali var. caerulea
Nymphaea nouchali caerulea
Nymphaea nouchalii var. caerulea, commonly known as the Blue Lotus, is a sacred aquatic plant revered for its profound medicinal and spiritual properties. Renowned for its calming effects, it is traditionally used to alleviate anxiety, improve sleep, and enhance cognitive clarity, offering a natural remedy for holistic wellness.
- Scientific name: Nymphaea nouchali var. caerulea
- Family: Nymphaeaceae
- Native range: Africa
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae within the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. Classified under the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Nymphaeales, it is a member of the family Nymphaeaceae. Its specific taxonomic placement concludes within the genus Nymphaea as the variety caerulea.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Nymphaeales | WCVP |
| Family | Nymphaeaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Nymphaea | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, known scientifically as Nymphaea nouchali var. caerulea, is recognized by various regional names across different languages. In Chinese, it is referred to as 埃及蓝睡莲, while in Hebrew, it is called נימפאה כחולה. In Arabic, the plant is known as بشنين أزرق, a name that is also used in the Sinai Arabic dialect as بشنين ازرق. Additionally, in Azerbaijani, it is commonly called Mavi suzanbağı.| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| zh | 埃及蓝睡莲 | Wikidata |
| he | נימפאה כחולה | Wikidata |
| ar | بشنين أزرق | Wikidata |
| arz | بشنين ازرق | Wikidata |
| az | Mavi suzanbağı | Wikidata |
| eo | Nila nimfeo | Wikidata |
| sv | Egyptisk blålotus | Wikidata |
| ml | നിംഫിയ സീറൂലി | Wikidata |
| mai | नील कमल | Wikidata |
| ne | निलो कमल | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a diverse geographical distribution spanning across multiple regions of the African continent. In Northern Africa, its presence is specifically noted within the country of Egypt. Moving towards the central regions, it is widely found throughout West-Central Tropical Africa. This includes its occurrence in Burundi, Rwanda, and the Congo. Furthermore, the species is also documented to grow within the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Northern Africa | Egypt | WCVP |
| West-Central Tropical Africa | Burundi | WCVP |
| West-Central Tropical Africa | Congo | WCVP |
| West-Central Tropical Africa | Rwanda | WCVP |
| West-Central Tropical Africa | DR Congo | WCVP |
| Northeast Tropical Africa | Chad | WCVP |
| Northeast Tropical Africa | Ethiopia | WCVP |
| Northeast Tropical Africa | Somalia | WCVP |
| Northeast Tropical Africa | Sudan-South Sudan | WCVP |
| East Tropical Africa | Kenya | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, commonly known as the blue lotus, features distinct morphological structures that contribute to its medicinal significance. The leaves are large, circular, and float upon the water's surface, providing a broad expanse of green that helps the plant photosynthesize effectively in aquatic environments. Most notably, the flowers are striking, star-shaped blooms that emerge from the water, displaying a beautiful blue hue and possessing various bioactive compounds that are often the focus of traditional medicinal uses.- Total parts
- 2
- Scientific sources
- 2
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| leaves | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| flowers | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Activities
Nymphaea nouchali var. caerulea has 3 reported activities identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antimicrobial, Antioxidant, Psychotropic.
- Total activities
- 3
- Scientific sources
- 3
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Antimicrobial | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antioxidant | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Psychotropic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |