Nymphaea
Water lily genus
Nymphaea, commonly known as water lilies, is a captivating genus of aquatic plants celebrated for their stunning blooms. Beyond their aesthetic beauty, various species possess significant medicinal properties. Historically utilized in traditional practices, they offer therapeutic potential for soothing inflammation, reducing anxiety, and supporting overall neurological wellness through bioactive compounds.
- Scientific name: Nymphaea
- Family: Nymphaeaceae
- Native range: Europe
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 organized under the order Nymphaeales and the family Nymphaeaceae. Finally, it is identified by its genus, Nymphaea.
| 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, belonging to the genus Nymphaea, is known by various names across different linguistic regions. In Simplified Chinese, it is referred to as 睡莲属 (zh-hans) and 睡莲属 (zh-cn), which is also the designation used in Singapore (zh-sg). In Traditional Chinese, the name is written as 睡蓮屬 (zh-hanth), a form also utilized in Hong Kong (zh-hk).| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| zh-hans | 睡莲属 | Wikidata |
| zh-hant | 睡蓮屬 | Wikidata |
| zh-hk | 睡蓮屬 | Wikidata |
| zh-cn | 睡莲属 | Wikidata |
| zh-sg | 睡莲属 | Wikidata |
| zh-tw | 睡蓮屬 | Wikidata |
| jv | Kembang Teraté | Wikidata |
| pl | grzybienie | Wikidata |
| he | נימפאה | Wikidata |
| be | Гарлачык | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a specific distribution pattern across the northern regions of Europe. It can be found growing in the natural landscapes of Denmark. Its presence is also noted within the borders of Finland. Furthermore, the species is distributed throughout Great Britain and Ireland. Finally, the plant extends its range to include the territory of Norway.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Northern Europe | Denmark | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Finland | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Great Britain | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Ireland | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Norway | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Sweden | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Austria | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Belgium | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Czechia-Slovakia | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Germany | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, commonly known as the water lily, is highly valued in traditional medicine, particularly for the therapeutic properties found within its flowers. These blossoms are often harvested to create infusions or extracts, as they are believed to possess calming and sedative qualities that can help alleviate anxiety or promote sleep.- Total parts
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 1
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| flowers | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Nymphaea has 4 reported phytochemicals identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include betaine, catalase, peroxidase, superoxide dismutase.
- Total chemicals
- 4
- Scientific sources
- 4
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| betaine | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| catalase | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| peroxidase | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| superoxide dismutase | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Activities
Nymphaea has 4 reported activities identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antidiabetic, Antioxidant, Hypnotic, Narcotic.
- Total activities
- 4
- Scientific sources
- 4
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Antidiabetic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antioxidant | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Hypnotic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Narcotic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Nymphaea has 2 reported medicinal uses identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include cold stress, type 2 diabetes mellitus.
- Total uses
- 2
- Scientific sources
- 2
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| cold stress | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| type 2 diabetes mellitus | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |