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American White Water Lily, Fragrant Water Lily, White Water Lily - Nymphaea odorata


Family: Nymphaeaceae - Water-lily family Genus Common Name: Waterlily Native Status: Native
Nymphaea odorata - American White Water Lily, Fragrant Water Lily, White Water Lily. The American White Water Lily (waterlily) is a beautiful aquatic plant found in most states in the United States.

The species consists of two subspecies, Nymphaea odorata ssp. odorata and N. odorata ssp. tuberosa. The latter is usually has somewhat larger flowers, and the petals are somewhat blunter. The more widespread subspecies from which the species takes its epithet has a very sweet fragrance, reported to be missing from ssp. tuberosa. The unscented American White Water Lilies are not found in the west or southeast.

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Nymphaea odorata

Distribution of Nymphaea odorata in the United States and Canada:
Map unavailable.
Map courtesy of The Biota of North America Program.
Map color key

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Site: BWCAW Date: 2005-August-29Photographer: Gerald C. Williamson
Minolta Dimage Z2
1/200f/5.6 ISO50
11.1mm
The blossom is usually found at water level, and has several rows each of numerous white petals surrounding a center of many yellow stamens. There are 4 green sepals underlying the blossom, which arises unbranched from the bottom of the waterway. Separate stems attach the floating round leaves to the plant.
Nymphaea odorata
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Nymphaea odorata initially published on USWildflowers.com 2010-03-22; Updated 2015-06-24

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All content except USDA Plants Database map Copyright Gerald C. Williamson 2024
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Code Update 20230302