Yellow Floating Heart

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• yellow floatingheart
• Fringed Water-Lily
• Fringed Waterlily
• fringed-water-lily
• yellow floating-heart

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Waldschmidia nymphoides
• Limnanthes nymphoides
• Villarsia nymphoides
• Limnanthemum nymphoides
• Schweyckerta nymphoides
• Menyanthes natans
• Limnanthes peltata
• Villarsia peltata
• Limnanthemum peltatum
• Nymphoides flava
• Menyanthes nymphoides

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 within the class Equisetopsida. It is further categorized under the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Asterales. Finally, it is a member of the family Menyanthaceae and is identified by the genus Nymphoides.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a specific geographical distribution across several European regions. In Northern Europe, it can be found inhabiting the waters of Denmark, Great Britain, and Ireland. Its presence also extends further north into the landscapes of Sweden. Moving toward the continent, the species is also recorded within Middle Europe. Specifically, these locations include the country of Austria.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Nymphoides peltata is characterized by its preference for specific aquatic environments, where it is primarily found inhabiting lakes and rivers. This species demonstrates a broad vertical distribution across various landscapes, maintaining an elevational range that spans from a minimum of 60 m AMSL to a maximum of 1800 m AMSL. Across its natural distribution, it occupies an intermediate ecological niche with a mean elevational range of approximately 930 m AMSL, allowing it to thrive in diverse hydrological settings ranging from lowland river systems to higher altitude lacustrine habitats.

Elevational range max:

1800 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

930 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

60 m AMSL

Habitat :

lakes, rivers

Life history

The life history of Nymphoides peltata is characterized by its existence as a perennial species, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons. It functions primarily as a hydrophyte, specifically categorized as a cryptophyte, which enables it to thrive in aquatic environments by utilizing specialized survival strategies. As a deciduous plant, it undergoes a seasonal cycle where its above-ground structures die back, typically in response to changing water levels or temperature fluctuations, before regenerating in subsequent years.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

hydrophyte

Life form :

cryptophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Nymphoides peltata is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb and forb, functioning as an independent organism without parasitic tendencies. As an aquatic species, it exhibits a self-supporting structural habit rather than acting as a climber, liana, or vine. The plant's physical stature is variable, with a minimum height recorded at 0.8 m, a mean height of approximately 0.03 m (noting significant developmental variance), and a maximum height reaching up to 1.6 m. Although it is classified within an aquatic context, its ecological niche is described through terrestrial associations, maintaining a non-woody composition throughout its structure.

Aquatic :

aquatic

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

1.6 m

Plant height mean:

0.03 m

Plant height min:

0.8 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Nymphoides peltata is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which governs its carbon fixation processes. The plant exhibits specific leaf morphology, with a mean leaf size of 104.95 cm² and an average leaf width of 7 cm, reaching a maximum width of 7 cm and a maximum length of 7 cm. Its leaf structure is further defined by a mean Specific Leaf Area (SLA) of 256 cm²/g, reflecting its biomass distribution relative to surface area. Functionally, the species is non-carnivorous and does not possess the biological mechanisms required to act as a nitrogen fixer.

Carnivory :

non-carnivorous

Leaf length max:

7 cm

Leaf size mean:

104.95 cm²

Leaf width mean:

7 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

256 cm²/g

Reproduction

The reproduction of Nymphoides peltata is primarily achieved through sexual means, as the plant features bisexual flowers and lacks asexual reproduction methods. The flowering period typically commences in July and extends through September. Pollination is a biotic process driven by insects, specifically utilizing bees as a primary pollination syndrome. Notably, self-fertilization is absent in this species, necessitating these insect visitors for successful fertilization. Following pollination, the plant develops a dehiscent fruit categorized as a capsule. These capsules vary in size, with an average length of 1.15 cm (ranging from a minimum of 1.7 cm to a maximum of 2.5 cm) and an average width of 0.95 cm (ranging from 0.8 cm to a maximum of 1.1 cm). The resulting seeds are extremely lightweight, possessing a mean mass of approximately 0.000601333 g, with individual seed masses reaching a maximum of 0.00071 g. Dispersal is specialized through a hydrochorous syndrome, meaning the seeds are distributed via water currents, facilitating the spread of the species across aquatic environments.

Dehiscence :

dehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

hydrochorous

Flowering time :

Jul

Flowering time :

Sep

Fruit length max:

2.5 cm

Fruit length mean:

1.15 cm

Fruit length min:

1.7 cm

Fruit type :

capsule

Fruit width max:

1.1 cm

Fruit width mean:

0.95 cm

Fruit width min:

0.8 cm

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

bee

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Reproduction asexual :

absent

Reproduction sexual :

bisexual

Seed mass max:

0.00071 g

Seed mass mean:

0.000601333333333333 g

Seed mass min:

0 g

Self fertilization :

absent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Nymphoides peltata 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 root.

Root

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Chemicals

Nymphoides peltata has 7 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Isoquercetin, Menthiafolin, RUTIN, Scopolin, quercetin.

Isoquercetin

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Menthiafolin

1. International journal of molecular sciences

RUTIN

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Scopolin

1. International journal of molecular sciences

quercetin

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

quercetin 3-O-vicianoside

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

quercitrin

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Activities

Nymphoides peltata has 2 reported activities identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antipyretic, Diuretic.

Antipyretic

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Diuretic

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Medicinal Uses

Nymphoides peltata has 2 reported medicinal uses identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include polyuria, wound healing.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations