Water lilies are like dandelions and roses - everyone knows what they look like. But water lilies are something very special. Read below to find out what characteristics these aquatic plants have and what requirements they have!
What characteristics does the water lily have?
The water lily is an aquatic plant from the water lily family (Nymphaeaceae) with a height of up to 300 cm. It prefers soft, nutrient-rich soil and has dark green, shiny leaves. The flowering period is from June to August and the flowers are mostly white, up to 20 cm wide.
Features in short form
- Plant family: Water lily family
- Occurrence: Europe
- Locations: Ponds, lakes, slow-moving rivers, bays
- Growth height: 50 to 300 cm
- Soil: soft, nutrient-rich
- Flowering period: June to August
- Flower: 5 to 20 cm wide, white
- Fruit: berry, capsule-like
- Leaves: dark green, shiny, floating and water leaves
- Roots: creeping, little branched
- Propagation: division, sowing
- Special feature: poisonous
Many names – more than around 40 species
This plant from the Nymphaeaceae family, of which there are more than 40 species, has the longest stems of the native flora in this country. They grow up to 3 m high! The best known is the white water lily. It is the most common and is also known as 'water lily' and 'deity of waters'.
Looking at leaves, flowers and fruits
The water lily has leaves above and below water. The leaves, up to 30 cm in size, are leathery and those that float under the surface of the water are rolled up. The shape of the leaves is kidney-shaped to heart-shaped. Its color is a dark green that gives off a slight shine on the top.
The flowers have these peculiarities:
- floating on the surface of the water
- up to 20 cm wide
- 4 sepals
- 20 petals
- mostly white, rarely red
- hermaphrodite structure
- numerous stamens
- yellow scars
- slightly scented
After the flower has 'drowned', the fruit forms in the water. It grows to 5 cm tall, is quite juicy and capsule-like. When ripe it releases the seeds it contains. These swim in the water until they strand somewhere and germinate. You can use the seeds to plant the water lily.
Tip
Attention: All parts of the water lily plant are poisonous! Consumption can, among other things, lead to respiratory paralysis