Nymphaea
Nymphaea /nɪmˈfiːə/ is a genus of aquatic plants in the family Nymphaeaceae. There are about 50 species in the genus, which has a cosmopolitan distribution.
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[edit] Name
The common name, shared with some other genera in the same family, is Water Lily.
The name Nymphaea comes from the Greek term "Νυμφαία", possibly related to "Νύμφη" meaning "nymph". The nymphs in Greek mythology were supernatural feminine beings associated with springs, so the application of the name to delicately flowered aquatic plants is understandable.
[edit] Description
Nymphaea leaves have a radial notch from the circumference to the petiole (leaf stem) in the center.
[edit] Classification
Despite their name, water-lilies are not related to the true lilies (family Liliaceae). The name "lily" is applied to a number of plants that are not at all closely related, such as day lilies, spider lilies and arum lilies, in addition to the water lilies. Nymphaea (Egyptian lotuses) are also not related to the Chinese and Indian lotus of genus Nelumbo, which are used in Asian cooking and sacred to Hinduism and Buddhism.
However, the genus Nymphaea is closely related to Nuphar, another genus commonly called "lotus". In Nymphaea, the flower petals are much larger than the sepals, whereas in Nuphar the petals are much smaller than its sepals. The fruit maturation also differs, with Nymphaea fruit sinking below the water level immediately after the flower closes, whereas Nuphar fruit are held above water level to maturity. Both genera share leaves with a radial notch from the circumference to the petiole (leaf stem) in the center.
[edit] Cultural significance
The ancient Egyptians revered the Nile water-lilies, or lotuses as they were also called. The lotus motif is a frequent feature of temple column architecture.
The Egyptian Blue Water-lily, N. caerulea, opens its flowers in the morning and then sinks beneath the water at dusk, while the Egyptian White Water-lily, N. lotus, flowers at night and closes in the morning. This symbolizes the Egyptian separation of deities and is a motif associated with Egyptian beliefs concerning death and the afterlife. The recent discovery of psychedelic properties of the blue lotus may also have been known to the Egyptians and explain its ceremonial role.[citation needed] Remains of both flowers have been found in the burial tomb of Ramesses II.
A syrian terra-cotta plaque from the 14th-13th century B.C.E. shows the goddess Asherah holding two lotus blossoms. An ivory panel from the 9th-8th century B.C.E. shows the god Horus seated on a lotus blossom, flanked by two Cherubs.[1]
The French painter Claude Monet is famous for his paintings of water lilies.
[edit] Uses
Water lilies have several edible parts. The young leaves and unopened flower buds can be boiled and served as a vegetable. The seeds, high in starch, protein, and oil, may be popped, parched, or ground into flour. Potato-like tubers can be collected from the species N. tuberosa.[2]
[edit] Cultivation
Many of the water-lilies familiar in water gardening are hybrids.
[edit] Taxonomy
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Subdivisions of genus Nymphaea:[3]
- Subgenus:
- Nymphaea:
- Nymphaea Chamaenymphaea
- Nymphaea Nymphaea
- Nymphaea Xanthantha
[edit] Gallery
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|Nymphaea "Attraction"]]
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[edit] References
- ^ William G. Dever; Did God have a Wife? Archeology and Folk Religion in Ancient Israel; page 221, 279.
- ^ Peterson, Lee Allen (1977). A field guide to the wild edible plants of Eastern and Central North America.. New York, New York: Houghton Mifflin. pp. 22.
- ^ Subdivisions of genus Nymphaea
- Perry D. Slocum: Waterlilies and Lotuses. Timber Press 2005, ISBN 0881926841 (restricted online version at Google Books)
[edit] External links
- Nymphaea Hybrids
- Kit Notts, "The first hybrid waterlilies"
- Species of Nymphaea subgenus Hydrocallis (species as recognized by GRIN)
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