Nymphaea odorata W. Aiton ssp. odorata. Common name: White Waterlily. Phenology: Jun-Sep. Habitat: Ponds, sluggish waters. Distribution: NL (Newfoundland) west to MB, south to FL and TX and n. Mexico; also scattered in the w. United States as an introduction.
Origin/Endemic status: Native
Taxonomy Comments: N. odorata is polymorphic, leading to the naming of numerous species, subspecies, and varieties (see synonymy for a few of the named entities). Wiersema in FNA (1997) recognizes ssp. odorata (most of our plants) and ssp. tuberosa (Paine) Wiersema & Hellquist, more western and northern, but edging into our area. Other named entities warrant further evaluation. N. odorata var. gigantea [= Castalia lekophylla Small] occurs on the Coastal Plain, and is considered to differ from var. odorata in its larger leaves (1.5-6 dm in diameter vs. 0.5-2.5 dm), larger flowers (mostly > 15 cm wide vs. mostly < 10 cm), and leaves upturned at the margins (vs. flat). N. odorata var. minor [= Castalia minor (Sims) Nyar] is considered to differ from var. odorata in its generally smaller size, leaves 5-11 cm in diameter, flowers mostly < 8 cm wide (vs. mostly > 9 cm wide); it may be merely a dwarfed form of extremely nutrient-limited waters of the Coastal Plain.
Synonymy ⓘ: = AqW, Ar, Can, FNA3, K4, Mi, NS, NY, POWO, Va, Borsch et al (2014), Borsch et al (2017), Woods et al (2005a), Woods et al (2005b); = Nymphaea odorata Aiton — GrPl, GW2, Il, NE, Tat; > Castalia lekophylla Small — S; > Castalia minor (Sims) Nyar — S; > Castalia odorata (Aiton) Wood — S; < Nymphaea odorata Aiton — Fl2, Mo3, NcTx, Pa, RAB, Tx, WH3, WV; > Nymphaea odorata Aiton var. gigantea Tricker — C, F, G; > Nymphaea odorata Aiton var. godfreyi D.B.Ward; > Nymphaea odorata Aiton var. minor Sims; > Nymphaea odorata Aiton var. odorata — F, G; >< Nymphaea odorata Aiton var. odorata — C; > Nymphaea odorata Aiton var. stenopetala Fernald — F; Nymphaea odorata Aiton. Basionym: Nymphaea odorata Aiton 1789
Links to other floras: = Nymphaea odorata ssp. odorata - FNA3
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Wetland Indicator Status:
- Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain: OBL (taxonomic split from wetland indicator species)
- Eastern Mountains and Piedmont: OBL (taxonomic split from wetland indicator species)
- Great Plains: OBL (taxonomic split from wetland indicator species)
- Midwest: OBL (taxonomic split from wetland indicator species)
- Northcentral & Northeast: OBL (taxonomic split from wetland indicator species)
Heliophily ⓘ: 8
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Horticultural Information
Intro: An aquatic perennial with fragrant, floating flowers found in ponds and other sluggish waters.
Stems: Stems grow toward the surface from thick rhizomes in bottom mud of a pond.
Leaves: Leaves floating, rounded, up to 11 in. wide and deeply cleft at the base; green above with a waxy coating, reddish-brown below.
Inforescence: Flowers borne singly.
Flowers: also float at the surface and are radially symmetric, consisting of many white or pink, sword-shaped petals and prominent yellow stamens; they open by day and close at night.
Fruits: Fruit a fleshy, globular berry that matures underwater.
Comments: N. odorata is polymorphic, leading to the naming of numerous species, subspecies, and varieties.
Height:
plant sale text:
bloom table text:
description: An aquatic perennial with fragrant, floating flowers found in ponds and other sluggish waters.
stems: Stems grow toward the surface from thick rhizomes in bottom mud of a pond.
leaves: Leaves floating, rounded, up to 11 in. wide and deeply cleft at the base; green above with a waxy coating, reddish-brown below.
inflorescence: Flowers borne singly.
flowers: also float at the surface and are radially symmetric, consisting of many white or pink, sword-shaped petals and prominent yellow stamens; they open by day and close at night.
fruits: Fruit a fleshy, globular berry that matures underwater.
comments: N. odorata is polymorphic, leading to the naming of numerous species, subspecies, and varieties.
cultural notes:
germination code:
native range: eastern North America
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