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Nuphar lutea
Nuphar lutea (L.) Sm.
Yellow Pond Lily, Yellow Cow Lily, Cow Lily, Spatter Dock, Wakas
Nymphaeaceae (Water-Lily Family)
Synonym(s):
USDA Symbol: NULU
USDA Native Status: L48 (N), AK (N), CAN (N), SPM (N)
The leaves of this coarse, rhizomatous aquatic perennial are quite variable and may be wide or rather narrow and submersed or floating. The single, yellow, fleshy flower, with its prominent, lobed stigma is the best known feature. Yellow pond-lily can grow in water up to 16 in. deep.
There are a number of subspecies of Nuphar lutea.
Plant Characteristics
Duration: PerennialHabit: Herb
Leaf Arrangement: Alternate
Breeding System: Flowers Bisexual
Fruit Type: Berry
Size Notes: Leaves and flowers usually float on the surface of the water.
Fruit: Green
Bloom Information
Bloom Color: YellowBloom Time: Mar , Apr , May , Jun , Jul , Aug , Sep , Oct
Distribution
USA: AK , AL , AR , AZ , CA , CO , CT , DC , DE , FL , GA , IA , ID , IL , IN , KS , KY , LA , MA , MD , ME , MI , MN , MO , MS , MT , NC , ND , NE , NH , NJ , NM , NV , NY , OH , OK , OR , PA , RI , SC , SD , TN , TX , UT , VA , VT , WA , WI , WV , WYCanada: NB , NS , ON , PE
Native Distribution: Lab. to AK, s. to FL, TX & B.C.
Native Habitat: Ponds; lakes; bayous, Ponds, bogs, streams and springs in the Edwards Plateau and east Texas.
Growing Conditions
Light Requirement: Part ShadeSoil Moisture: Wet
Aquatic: yes
Soil Description: Clay, Loam, Sand
Benefit
Use Food: Native people gathered the thick rootstocks in winter and spring, boiled or roasted them for several hours, then peeled them to expose their sweet, gluey contents. Rootstocks were also sliced, dried and ground into meal or flour. The starchy seeds can be difficult to remove, so the tribes rotted the fruits until the pods became soft. The heated seeds swell like poor-quality popcorn, making a crunchy snack. (Kershaw)Conspicuous Flowers: yes
Interesting Foliage: yes
Attracts: Birds
Deer Resistant: High
Propagation
Propagation Material: Root CuttingsDescription: Divide bulblets from plants and grow in watertanks. Also can grow from slices of root with buds.
Commercially Avail: yes
From the National Organizations Directory
According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is on display at the following locations:Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center - Austin, TX
Delaware Nature Society - Hockessin, DE
Crosby Arboretum - Picayune, MS
Bibliography
Bibref 1620 - Gardening with Native Plants of the South (Reprint Edition) (2009) Wasowski, S. with A. WasowskiSearch More Titles in Bibliography
Web Reference
Webref 23 - Southwest Environmental Information Network (2009) SEINet - Arizona ChapterAdditional resources
USDA: Find Nuphar lutea in USDA PlantsFNA: Find Nuphar lutea in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Nuphar lutea
Metadata
Record Modified: 2023-02-20Research By: TWC Staff, MAC