Species
Nuphar lutea
Common Name(s)
yellow water lily, brandy botte
Authority
Nuphar lutea (L.) Sibth. et Sm.
Family
Nymphaeaceae
Brief Description
Perennial floating leaved plants with shiny, 'lily' shaped leaves and bright golden yellow flowers that are held above the water surface.
Flora Category
Vascular - Exotic
Structural Class
Dicotyledonous Herbs other than Composites
Distribution
Central Hawkes Bay and South Canterbury, targeted for eradication.
Habitat
Still and slow flowing water bodies.
Features
Stout spongy, tuberous rhizome that is up to 10 cm across. The floating leaf is ovate, with entire leaf margins, a deep sinus, and up to 30 cm long. The submerged leaf is very thin and lettuce-like. The flowers are golden yellow, cup shaped and have 5 to 6 sepals (that are petal like) while the petals are inconspicuous. The flower is up to 6 cm across with a strong alcoholic aroma. The flower is held above the water surface by a stout stalk. Fruit flask-shaped, green 2-3 cm long.
Similar Taxa
Nymphaea spp., water poppy (Hydrocleys nymphoides), marshwort (Nymphoides geminata), and fringed water lily (Nymphoides peltata). Nymphaea species have a much rounder leaf and lack the thick spongy rhizomes that are so distinctive in yellow water lily. Water poppy, marshwort, and fringed water lily have much smaller floating leaves (up to 10 cm across) than the large leaves of yellow water lily, and also lack the distinctive rhizome.
Flowering
Spring to summer.
Flower Colours
Yellow
Fruiting
Summer-autumn
Year Naturalised
1975
Origin
Native to Eurasia and northern Africa
Reason for Introduction
Ornamental pond plant
Control Techniques
Can be controlled manually, mechanically or herbicidally depending on situation.
Life Cycle and Dispersal
Rhizome fragments and seed.
This page last updated on 30 Jul 2014