Table of Contents
Overview
Brief Summary
Nymphaea nouchali, known as red and blue water-lily, blue star water-lily, or star lotus, is an aquatic flowering plant in the Nymphaceae (water-lily family), native to southern and eastern Asia (including the Indian subcontinent, China, and Taiwan), Borneo, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, and Australia, where it typically grows in ponds. It is often called the “blue lotus of India,” but it is not a true lotus (of the lotus family, Nelumbaceae; the genus Lotus is in the legume family, Fabaceae), nor are water-lilies true lilies (of the family Liliaceae).
N. nouchali grows from rhizomes or tubers rooted under the water. Leaves are oval to round, 13–15 cm (5–6 in), with an open sinus at the leaf base where it attaches to the petiole (leaf stem). Leaves may spread 1.4–1.5 m (4–5 feet) from where the rhizome is rooted. Flowers, which have little fragrance, are stellate (star-shaped) with 4 sepals and 10–16 petals, and are 5–13 cm (2–5 in) in diameter. Although leaves float on the water surface, flowers are generally held 30 cm (12 in) above water. They are usually pale blue (but can be pink or white) with pale yellow stamens and anthers.
N. nouchali has been cultivated in southeast Asia for centuries, especially around temples. It is also cultivated in Sri Lanka and gathered from dried ponds in India for the rhizomes, which are used as food and animal fodder as a source of starch. In Ayurvedic medicine, it is used to treat indigestion.
Cultivars include N. nouchali var. cyanea, which has medium-sized pale to deep blue flowers, and N. nouchali var. versicolor, which is commonly exported in the form of tubers from Sri Lanka to Europe and the U.S. for use in the aquariums; the tubers grow quickly after exposure to warm water, making an “instant” aquarium plant.
(Everett 1981, FOC 2011, Slocum 2005, Wikipedia 2011)
- Everett, T.H. 1981. “Nymphaea.” The New York Botanical Garden Illustrated Encyclopedia of Horticulture 7: 2351–2357.
- FOC. 2011. Nymphaea nouchali. Flora of China 6: 118. Acccessed 21 December 2011 from http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=2&taxon_id=242000584.
- Slocum, P.D. 2005. Waterlilies and Lotuses: Species, Cultivars, and New Hybrids. Portland, OR: Timber Press. 260 p.
- Wikipedia. 2011. "Nymphaea nouchali." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Accessed 21 December 2011 from http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Nymphaea_nouchali&oldid=441382584.
© Jacqueline Courteau
Supplier: Jacqueline Courteau
Trusted
Distribution
Localities documented in Tropicos sources
China (Asia)
Vietnam (Asia)
Thailand (Asia)
Sri Lanka (Asia)
Philippines (Asia)
Bangladesh (Asia)
Afghanistan (Asia)
Pakistan (Asia)
India (Asia)
Nepal (Asia)
Burma (Asia)
Note: This information is based on publications available through Tropicos and may not represent the entire distribution. Tropicos does not categorize distributions as native or non-native.
-
Flora of China Editorial Committee. 2001. Fl. China 6: 1–512. Science Press & Missouri Botanical Garden Press, Beijing & St. Louis.
http://www.tropicos.org/Reference/1018509
© Missouri Botanical Garden, 4344 Shaw Boulevard, St. Louis, MO 63110 USA
Source:
Missouri Botanical Garden
Trusted
Localities documented in Tropicos sources
Madagascar (Africa & Madagascar)
Note: This information is based on publications available through Tropicos and may not represent the entire distribution. Tropicos does not categorize distributions as native or non-native.
-
Rutenberg, C. 1880-1889. Reliquiae Rutenbergianae. Abh. Naturwiss. Vereine Bremen 7(1): 1–54; 7(2): 198–214; 7(3): 335–365; 9(4): 401–403; 10(3): 369–396.
http://www.tropicos.org/Reference/7755
© Missouri Botanical Garden, 4344 Shaw Boulevard, St. Louis, MO 63110 USA
Source:
Missouri Botanical Garden
Trusted
Localities documented in Tropicos sources
Madagascar (Africa & Madagascar)
Note: This information is based on publications available through Tropicos and may not represent the entire distribution. Tropicos does not categorize distributions as native or non-native.
-
Hoffmann, K. A. O. 1881. Sertum plantarum madagascariensium a cl. I. M. Hildebrandt lectarum. Sert. Pl. Madagasc. 1–20.
http://www.tropicos.org/Reference/7816
© Missouri Botanical Garden, 4344 Shaw Boulevard, St. Louis, MO 63110 USA
Source:
Missouri Botanical Garden
Trusted
Localities documented in Tropicos sources
Madagascar (Africa & Madagascar)
Borneo (Asia)
Note: This information is based on publications available through Tropicos and may not represent the entire distribution. Tropicos does not categorize distributions as native or non-native.
-
Viguier, R. & H. Humbert. 1923. Plantes recoltees a Madagascar en 1912, IV. Bull. Soc. Linn. Normandie ser. 7, 6: 169–200.
http://www.tropicos.org/Reference/8935
-
Baker, J. G. 1881. Notes on a collection of flowering plants made by L. Kitching, Esq., in Madagascar in 1879.". J. Linn. Soc., Bot. 18: 264–281.
http://www.tropicos.org/Reference/2118
-
Hotta, M. 1966. Notes on Bornean Plants, I. Acta Phytotax. Geobot. 22: 1–6.
http://www.tropicos.org/Reference/832
-
Perrier de la Bathie, H. 1950. Nympheacees. Fl. Madagasc. 74: 1–5.
http://www.tropicos.org/Reference/1268
© Missouri Botanical Garden, 4344 Shaw Boulevard, St. Louis, MO 63110 USA
Source:
Missouri Botanical Garden
Trusted
Range Description
© International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources
Source:
IUCN
Trusted
Physical Description
Morphology
Description
© Missouri Botanical Garden, 4344 Shaw Boulevard, St. Louis, MO, 63110 USA
Source:
Missouri Botanical Garden
Trusted
Diagnostic Description
Synonym
© Missouri Botanical Garden, 4344 Shaw Boulevard, St. Louis, MO, 63110 USA
Source:
Missouri Botanical Garden
Trusted
Ecology
Habitat
Habitat & Distribution
© Missouri Botanical Garden, 4344 Shaw Boulevard, St. Louis, MO, 63110 USA
Source:
Missouri Botanical Garden
Trusted
Habitat and Ecology
Systems
- Freshwater
© International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources
Source:
IUCN
Trusted
Molecular Biology and Genetics
Molecular Biology
Statistics of barcoding coverage: Nymphaea stellata
Public Records: 0
Specimens with Barcodes: 3
Species With Barcodes: 1
© Barcode of Life Data Systems
Trusted
Conservation
Conservation Status
IUCN Red List Assessment
Red List Category
Red List Criteria
Version
Year Assessed
Assessor/s
Reviewer/s
Contributor/s
Justification
© International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources
Source:
IUCN
Trusted
Trends
Population
Population Trend
© International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources
Source:
IUCN
Trusted
Threats
© International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources
Source:
IUCN
Trusted
Management
Wikipedia
Nymphaea nouchali
Nymphaea nouchali, commonly known as the Red and blue water lily, Blue star water lily, Star lotus, Pygmy Water-lily, or by its synonym Nymphaea stellata, is a water lily of genus Nymphaea. The Blue waterlily is the national flower of Sri Lanka. White-flowered waterlilies (of several species) are the national flower of Bangladesh[1] and the state flower for Andhra Pradesh, India.[citation needed]
Contents |
Distribution and habitat [edit]
This aquatic plant is native from the Indian Subcontinent to Australia[2] region. It has been long valued as a garden flower in Thailand and Myanmar to decorate ponds and gardens.
In its natural state the Red and blue water-lily is found in static or slow-flowing aquatic habitats of little to moderate depth.
Description [edit]
Nymphaea nouchali is a day blooming nonviviparous plant with submerged roots and stems. Part of the leaves are submerged, while others rise slightly above the surface. The leaves are round and green on top; they usually have a darker underside. The floating leaves have undulating edges that give them a crenellate appearance. Their size is about 20–23 cm and their spread is 0.9 to 1.8 m
This water-lily has a beautiful flower which is usually violet blue in color with reddish edges. Some varieties have white, purple, mauve or fuchsia-colored flowers. The flower has 4-5 sepals and 13-15 petals that have an angular appearance making the flower look star-shaped from above. The cup-like calyx has a diameter of 11–14 cm.
Symbolism [edit]
Nymphaea nouchali is the National flower of Sri Lanka (where it is known as Nil Mānel or "Nil Mahanel").[3][4] Since "Nil" means ‘blue’ in Sinhala, the Sinhalese name of this plant is often rendered as "blue lotus" in English.
In Sri Lanka this plant usually grows in buffalo ponds and natural wetlands. Its beautiful aquatic flower has been mentioned in Sanskrit, Pali and Sinhala literary works since ancient times under the names "Kuvalaya", "Indhīwara", "Niluppala", "Nilothpala" and "Nilupul" as a symbol of virtue, discipline and purity. Buddhist lore in Sri Lanka claims that this flower was one of the 108 auspicious signs found on Prince Siddhartha's footprint.[5] It is said that when Buddha died, lotus flowers blossomed everywhere he had walked in his lifetime.
The star lotus might have been one of the plants eaten by the Lotophagi of Homer's Odyssey.
Uses [edit]
_in_Hyderabad,_AP_W_IMG_2624.jpg)
The Red and blue water-lily is used as an ornamental plant because of its spectacular flowers. It is also popular as an aquarium plant under the name "Dwarf Lily" or "Dwarf Red Lily".[6] Sometimes it is grown for its flowers, while other aquarists prefer to trim the lily pads, and just have the underwater foliage.
Nymphaea nouchali is considered a medicinal plant in Indian Ayurvedic medicine under the name Ambal; it was mainly used to treat indigestion.[7] Recent experiments have confirmed that it has medicinal qualities as an antihepatotoxic and antidiabetic.[8][9] Like all waterlilies or lotuses, its tubers and rhizomes can be used as food items; they are eaten usually boiled or roasted. In the case of the Red and blue water-lily, its tender leaves and flower peduncles are also valued as food.[10]
The dried plant is collected from ponds, tanks and marshes during the dry season and used in India as animal forage.[11]
See also [edit]
- Nymphaea caerulea, the Egyptian blue lotus or sacred lotus
- Nymphaea lotus, the white lotus or Egyptian white water-lily
- List of freshwater aquarium plant species
References [edit]
- ^ A Hossain, G Kabir, M M Ud-deen, and A M S Alam (2007). "Cytological studies of Nymphaea species available in Bangladesh". Journal of Bio-Science 15: 7–13.
- ^ http://bie.ala.org.au/species/Nymphaea+nouchali
- ^ "Sri Lanka National Flower". Government of Sri Lanka Official Web Portal. Government of Sri Lanka. Retrieved 4 March 2011.
- ^ Zeylanica (Nymphaea stellata)
- ^ TokyoNet - National Statistics
- ^ Dwarf Aquarium Lily (Nymphaea stellata)
- ^ P. V. Sharma, Puṣpāyurvedaḥ - Pradhāna vitaraka Caukhambhā Bhāratī Akādamī, 1998
- ^ MR Bhandarkar, A Khan - Antihepatotoxic effect of Nymphaea stellata willd., against carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatic damage in albino rats - Journal of ethnopharmacology, 2004
- ^ K Rajagopal, K Sasikala -Antidiabetic activity of hydro-ethanolic extracts of Nymphaea Stellata flowers- African Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, 2008
- ^ FR Irvine, RS Trickett - Waterlilies as Food - Kew Bulletin, 1953
- ^ A Banerjee, S Matai - Composition of Indian aquatic plants in relation to utilization as animal forage - Journal of Aquatic plant management, 1990
Nymphaea Nouchali also known "Shapla" a national flower and icon of Bangladesh. The national flower of Bangladesh is Shapla (Water Lily). Shapla is a flower floating at ease in almost every water bodies of Bangladesh. Beels haors, brooks, ponds etc. are abodes of this flower. There are two types of Shapla differing in color. One is white and the other is pink. Other than adding to the beauty of Bangladesh, Shapla is a delicious item of food for Bangladeshis. Rural people consume it as curry. Children are also fond of eating the stem and the fruit even green. Bangladeshis adore this flower which is expressed better by making a dummy of Shapla called Shapla Chattar at Motijheel in Dhaka. Leton, Houston, TX
Source:
Wikipedia
Trusted
Notes
Comments
© Missouri Botanical Garden, 4344 Shaw Boulevard, St. Louis, MO, 63110 USA
Source:
Missouri Botanical Garden
Trusted
