Water lily: description of the plant, variety and cultivation. White water lily photo - description of a white water lily White water lily description for children 2

The water lily - a charming and delicate white water lily - is nothing other than the famous fairy-tale overpowering grass. Rumor ascribes magical properties to it. She was endowed with the properties of protecting people, she could give strength to overcome the enemy, protect them from troubles and misfortunes, but she could also destroy the one who sought her with unclean thoughts.

The Slavs believed that the water lily was able to protect people from various troubles while traveling. Going on a long journey, people sewed water lily leaves and flowers into small amulet bags, carried them with them as an amulet and firmly believed that this would bring them good luck and protect them from misfortunes.

There was also a kind of spell for this occasion: “I am driving in an open field, and in an open field the grass grows. I did not give birth to you, I did not water you. Mother earth gave birth to you, simple-haired girls and women who rolled cigarettes watered you. Conquer the grass! Conquer the evil people: they would not think evil of me, they would not think anything bad; drive away the tell-tale sorcerer.

Overcome the grass! Overcome high mountains, low valleys, blue lakes, steep banks, dark forests, stumps and logs. I will hide you, overpowering grass, near a zealous heart along the entire path and along the entire path!”
Common names: grass grass or white grass, balabolka, floating fish, mermaid flower or mermaid color, water poppy or water poppy, bliskalka, beaver, white hens, water companion, water color, white water lily.
The water lily is beautiful! This is one of the most beautiful plants. Since ancient times, the white water lily has been considered a symbol of beauty, purity and mercy. These large flowers with a golden mean grow in quiet reservoirs of our rivers and lakes. The water lily nymph is also called the “child of the sun”: its beautiful flowers open in the morning and close at dusk.

"The blue lotus, or blue water lily (lat. Nymphaea caerulea) is an aquatic plant of the water lily family, a species of the genus Water Lily growing in East Africa (from the Nile Valley to the extreme south of the continent), India and Thailand."

There are many legends about the origin of this wonderful plant. They say that it got its name in honor of the nymphs that live, like these plants, in water. As is known from Greek mythology, nymphs are deities of nature: forests, mountains, lakes, rivers and seas. It's no surprise that the flowers named after them are beautiful. In Slavic fairy tales, the idea of water lilies is associated with the mysterious image of a mermaid.

Scandinavian legends say that each water lily has its own friend - an elf, who is born with it and dies with it. According to popular beliefs, nymphs live in its flowers and leaves along with little elves. Leaves and flowers serve as boats for these little elves.
The corollas of flowers serve as both a home and a bell for the elves.

During the day, the elves sleep in the depths of the flower, and at night they swing the pestle and ring the bell, calling their brothers to a quiet conversation. Some of them sit in a circle on a leaf, dangling their legs in the water, while others prefer to talk, swaying in the corollas of water lilies.

When they get together, they sit in the capsules and row, row with oars, and the capsules then serve as boats or boats for them. The elves' conversations take place at a late hour, when everything on the lake has calmed down and fallen into deep sleep.

Lake elves live in underwater crystal palaces built from shells. Pearls, yachts, silver and corals sparkle around the palaces. Emerald streams roll along the bottom of the lake, strewn with multi-colored pebbles, and waterfalls cascade onto the roofs of the palaces. The sun shines through the water into these dwellings, and the moon and stars call the elves to the shore.

Switzerland, Goldfish and Lily

The ancient Greek legend about the water lily tells how a beautiful white nymph, inflamed with love for Hercules and did not receive a response from him, turned into a white water lily out of grief and love for him.
In Ancient Greece, the flower was considered a symbol of beauty and eloquence. Young girls wove garlands from them, decorated their heads and tunics with them; they even wove a wreath of water lilies for the beautiful Helen on the day of her wedding with King Menelaus and decorated the entrance to their bedroom with a wreath.

The legend of the North American Indians says that the water lily appeared during the collision of the Polar and Evening Stars, from their sparks. These two stars argued among themselves who would get the arrow that the great Indian chief shot into the sky and collided in flight.

According to North German belief, water lilies grew on the site of two dead mermaids who were killed by an evil nix (a mermaid in ancient German mythology) who lived in the lake.
In Germany they said that once a little mermaid fell in love with a knight, but he did not reciprocate her feelings. Out of grief, the nymph turned into a water lily.

"Karelian Nymphea"

According to another legend, water lilies are the children of the beautiful countess, carried away into the mud by the king of the swamp. The grief-stricken countess went to the shore of the swamp every day. One day she saw a marvelous white flower, the petals of which resembled the complexion of her daughter, and the stamens resembled her golden hair.

There is a belief that nymphs (mermaids) take refuge in the flowers and leaves of water lilies, and at midnight they begin to dance in circles and carry away people passing by the lake. If someone managed to somehow escape from them, then grief would dry him up.

In the distant past, the entire coastal strip of Italy, from Pisa to Naples, was occupied by swamps. There the legend of the beautiful Melinda and the swamp king was born. The legend is that the water lilies are the children of the beautiful blond Countess Melinda and the ugly, scary swamp king who kidnapped her. Once upon a time, there lived a beautiful Melinda.

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And the swamp king was watching her all the time. The king's eyes twinkled when he looked at the beautiful girl, and although he was scary as hell, he nevertheless became Melinda's husband, and the yellow water lily helped him get the beauty - the closest relative of the white water lily, which has long personified betrayal and deceit.
Walking with her friends near a swampy lake, Melinda admired the golden floating flowers, reached for one of them, stepped on a coastal stump in which the ruler of the bog was hiding, and he carried the girl to the bottom.

""scarlet flower"-2"

At the site of her death, snow-white flowers with a yellow core emerged. So, after the deceiving water lilies, water lilies appeared, meaning in the ancient language of flowers: “You must never deceive me.”

Water lilies, Nikitsky Botanical Garden, Crimea

The egg pod blooms from late May to August. At this time, next to the floating leaves you can see large yellow, almost spherical flowers sticking high on thick stalks.

Capsule has long been considered a medicinal plant in folk medicine. Both the leaves and the thick rhizome lying on the bottom, up to 15 centimeters in length, and large, good-smelling flowers, reaching 5 centimeters in diameter, were used.

They also tore off the egg capsule in order to decorate the home with flowers. And in vain: the flowers of the egg capsule, like the white lily, do not stand in vases.

Kubyshka

The white water lily is protected by law, since there are very few of them left in the reservoirs of rivers and lakes. The water lily blooms for a long time, from late May to August. White lily flowers open in the early morning and close in the late evening.

"There are nymphs on our lake. Rumor has it that some enthusiast dived from a boat and landed... Praise be to him. A little far from the shore... But away from vandals..)))"

If you come to the lake early in the morning, you can watch these flowers emerge from the water. This is an unforgettable sight! Something begins to rise from the depths of the lake, and a large bud appears on the surface.

In a matter of minutes it turns into a beautiful white flower. There is another one nearby, a little further away... The amazing thing is that the buds emerge just before sunrise, and open as soon as the sun's rays touch the surface of the water.

You won't find them in the same position all day. From morning to evening, flowering water lilies follow the movement of the sun, turning their floating head towards its rays. At noon they open all their petals. Then their flowers begin to gradually close and the flower looks like an unopened bud.

And here something interesting happens: the closed water lily flowers begin to slowly sink into the water. These lashes-stems, shortening, draw the flowers along with them. Water lilies love the sun very much, a little clouds will come and they will slowly begin to close.

The water lily leaf is buoyant, like a raft, simple in appearance, heart-shaped and thick, like a cake; There are air cavities inside it, which is why it does not sink.

There is several times more air in it to support its own weight, the excess of which is necessary for unforeseen accidents: if, say, a bird or a frog lands, the leaf must hold them.

There are about 50 species of water lilies, which are distributed almost throughout the globe, in tropical and temperate zones. Flowers with a diameter of 3 to 30 cm, of different colors: white, pink, blue, purple, etc. In many species, the transition of stamens to petals is clearly visible. There are 3 types in Russia. , or snow-white, common in the European part.

The Latin name for the water lily is Nymphaea, literally translated as “little nymph.” In ancient mythology, nymphs were the name given to lower female deities.

The beautiful flowers of the white water lily float to the surface of the reservoir in the early morning and bloom in the form of a lush rose, emitting a delicate aroma. In the evening, the flower closes and plunges back into the water. You should not pick wonderful flowers, as the plant suffers greatly from this. As a rule, the water lily dies due to damage to the stem.

In order for the leaf to float and for better movement of air and water vapor, its entire internal tissue is permeated with channels and resembles a sponge, it is called spongy.

Large white flowers with numerous petals and yellow stamens float on the surface of the water. Leaves grow only at the end of a thick, branched rhizome that lies at the bottom. Its entire surface is covered with darker traces of dead leaves, looking like brown diamonds on a light yellow background, which make the rhizome look like a large spotted snake. Thick light roots are formed only on the lower side of the rhizome and look like numerous legs.

Amazing water lily flowers seem to be covered with wax. In Ancient Greece, their petals were sprinkled on the wedding bed of the newlyweds and decorated with the clothes of the gods. The Egyptians worshiped the beauty of water lilies, depicting these plants on gravestones. The red water lily, brought to Egypt from India, served as a symbol of the divine origin of royal power. Wreaths were woven from the plant and placed on the head of the new pharaoh who came to power.

A huge number of legends and superstitions are associated with the water lily. The very Latin name of the flower - nymphea, goes back to the Greek legend about a nymph who turned into a snow-white flower from an unhappy love for Hercules, every morning she floats to the surface of the water, the flower opens, and the nymph peers into the distance in search of her lover, and at night she disappears into the water again. Since water lily flowers appear on the surface at about seven o'clock in the morning and go under water at seven o'clock in the evening, the picture depicted in Kramskoy's famous canvas, where mermaids walk among water lilies in the moonlight, is simply impossible. The attitude towards the water lily in Western Europe is probably a distant echo of this legend. In ancient German and some West Slavic fairy tales it is called nenyufar or dead lily and it is believed that mermaids and vampires turn into its flowers during the day. In Russian mythology, this plant is called overpowering grass. She was supposed to protect from all misfortunes and troubles, including witchcraft and evil spirits. When going on the night of Ivan Kupala to look for blooming ferns, you had to take the grass with you. According to Slavic legends, mermaids drove men crazy who wanted to pick water lilies, luring the unfortunate ones into the underwater kingdom. Very interesting are the stories of North American Indians, who claim that water lilies were formed from sparks that arose as a result of the collision of stars.

This living decoration of reservoirs is one of the first herbaceous plants on our planet; it appeared on lakes shortly before the extinction of dinosaurs and retained many archaic features in its structure. For example, a flower is designed in an extremely primitive way. Initially, angiosperm flowers did not have petals. Petals, designed to attract pollinating insects, appeared much later, in the process of gradual formation from stamens. From water lily flowers one can trace all stages of the transformation of stamens into petals.

The water lily is pollinated by insects, and after flowering its berry-like fruit goes under water. There it rots after ripening, and the seeds, surrounded by an air-filled shell, float to the surface of the water.

Water lilies often form thickets that serve as spawning grounds for fish. The rhizomes and seeds of the plant serve as food for waterfowl, muskrats, beavers, muskrats and other aquatic animals, thanks to which they are spread across lakes, ponds and rivers. Many types of water lilies are grown as ornamental plants.

Snow-white or pure white water lily (Nymphaea Candida J.Presl)

Description of appearance:
Flowers: Fragrant flowers with a diameter of 10-12 (up to 20) cm float on the surface of the water. The flower consists of 3-5 oblong sepals, numerous white petals. The base of the calyx is quadrangular, prominent; sepals with 5-7 obscure veins. The outer petals are large, and the closer to the center of the flower, the smaller they are; the innermost ones are very similar to stamens. Stamens are numerous. The pistil is large, with a yellow flat stigma. The flowers close in the evening and submerge in water; in the morning they float up and open again, but in rainy weather they do not open during the day. After flowering, the peduncle curls and the fruit develops in water.
Leaves: Long-petioled leaves with a heart-shaped oval or rounded blade with a diameter of 10-30 cm, dark green above and with a reddish-purple tint below (young leaves are redder) float on the surface of the water.
Root: With a thick dark brown rhizome, which is located horizontally at the bottom of the reservoir, only slightly covered with silt. The rhizome is covered with the remains of petioles of fallen leaves, leaves and pedicels extend from it.
Flowering and fruiting time: Blooms from June to September. The fruits ripen in August-October.
Lifespan: Perennial.
Habitat: The pure white water lily grows in standing and slowly flowing waters at depths of up to 2 m. It often forms extensive thickets.
Prevalence: A predominantly European species, found in the Caucasus and Central Asia. In Russia, it is distributed in the European part and in the south of Siberia. Common in many areas of Central Russia.
Addition: The flowers are very beautiful, which is why the water lily is often called a white water lily. Unfortunately, the plant began to disappear from reservoirs near densely populated areas, as its flowers are constantly being torn off. Pollution of water bodies also matters - the water lily prefers clean water. In some southern regions there is European White water lily (Nymphaea alba L.), having a rounded calyx base and usually flowers sticking out of the water. Rarely found in the northern regions Small or tetrahedral water lily (Nymphaea tetragona Georgi), with small flowers, up to 5 cm in diameter.

Syn.: overcoming grass, overcoming white, white water lily, European white water lily, white lotus, quicksand, balabolka, mermaid flower or mermaid flower, water poppy or water poppy, white hens, bliskalka, water companion, beaver, water flower, nymphea, large lapushnik.

A perennial rhizomatous aquatic plant with round, large, floating leaves and luxurious snow-white flowers. The white water lily not only predicts the weather, but also has an anti-inflammatory, soothing, antipyretic, analgesic, and hemostatic effect.
The plant is poisonous!

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Flower formula

White water lily flower formula: *CH4L15-31T75-110P14-20.

In medicine

White water lily is not a domestic pharmacopoeial plant, but is widely used in folk medicine and homeopathy. Traditional healers use water lily rhizomes as an anti-inflammatory, hemostatic, diuretic, choleretic, astringent, hypotensive agent orally for dysentery, cystitis and diseases of the excretory system (kidneys and bladder), hepatitis, for some gynecological diseases, tuberculosis, in order to increase lactation in women , externally in the treatment of long-healing purulent wounds. European folk medicine recognizes the rhizomes of the white water lily in the form of aqueous decoctions and oil extracts as an effective remedy in the treatment of tumors of various origins. The alkaloid nymphein in the composition of water lily roots has an effect on the central nervous system, the glycoside nymphalin has a calming, analgesic and hypnotic effect. In crushed form, water lily roots act as mustard plasters if this remedy is used externally, applied to inflamed areas of the skin in order to reduce the severity of the inflammatory process.

A decoction or extract of the leaves of an aquatic plant is used for, in homeopathy - for diseases of the kidneys, intestines and hypertension. Water lily flowers are used as a sedative, antipyretic, hypnotic and analgesic. Chinese folk healers use all parts of the aquatic plant in the form of various decoctions and tinctures, believing that the white water lily brings youth, health and beauty. The flowers of the plant have a sedative, astringent, antipyretic and analgesic effect. In the form of tinctures and poultices, they were used as an antispasmodic for myalgia, neuralgia, and for acne and freckles. Infusions of water lily flowers are effective for jaundice; they were used as a sedative for painful emissions, an antipyretic, and to quench thirst in patients. Baths with an infusion of water lily flowers are used as an external pain reliever, and water infused with the petals of the plant is used for lotions and washes as a cosmetically effective remedy for sunburn, acne and freckles.

Contraindications and side effects

Despite the beneficial properties of the white water lily, contraindications to its use are individual intolerance and hypotension, since preparations based on the rhizome of the plant reduce blood pressure. The plant must be used carefully, adhering to dosages, not forgetting the presence of a significant amount of tannins and bitter substances in the composition. White water lily is also not recommended for pregnant and lactating women, children under the age of 18, the plant is poisonous.

In cooking

Water lily seeds, roasted and crushed in a mortar, are used to prepare a drink that tastes like coffee. The rhizomes of the plant contain up to 20% starch; when dried, the roots are ground into flour, from which bread and flat cakes are baked. Fried rhizomes in vegetable oil are also served as a side dish or a separate dish.

In cosmetology

A decoction of fresh white water lily petals is used as a cosmetic remedy for whitening and cleansing the face of acne, freckles, and age spots. An infusion of the plant's flowers is used to rinse your hair to stimulate hair growth.

In other areas

In landscape design.

Hybrid winter-hardy varieties of white water lily are often used to decorate garden ponds. The choice of plant for a pond in the garden should be determined by the size of the reservoir, that is, water lilies should occupy no more than half the surface of the reservoir. The most popular forms of white water lily: variety "Colorado" - distinguished by a pale pink tint of flowers and large round leaves, "Yellow Sensation" - with olive-colored leaves and light yellow tint large flowers with orange anthers, "Marliatsia Gromotella" - variety primrose, whose cream flowers with yellow anthers open at the end of May.

On the farm.

Plant rhizomes have long been used as an effective means for exterminating cockroaches indoors.

Classification

White water lily (lat. Nymphaéa álba) is an aquatic perennial plant, the type species of the genus Nymphaéa, belonging to the water lily family. On European territory, only three types of water lily are found out of the existing 53 species: the pure white water lily (Nymphaea candida Presl), in Siberia the small water lily (Nymphaea tetragona Georgi) is found and the most common is the white water lily.

Botanical description

White water lily is an aquatic perennial plant whose height reaches 2 meters. The rhizome is fleshy, thick, dark brown in color, attached to the bottom of the reservoir by adventitious roots. The rhizome consists of a whole system of air channels that hold the aquatic plant on the surface of the water, provide a sufficient amount of oxygen for breathing, and also give strength to the tissues to avoid possible ruptures from a strong gust of wind and current. The leaves are large, round-oval, with a deep notch at the base and pointed, equilateral lobes, located on long cylindrical petioles. The color of the leaves changes with the age of the plant itself: at a young age the leaves are reddish in color, over time they become dark green on top and reddish-purple below.

In July-August, green buds appear on the surface of the water on long peduncles. The flowers of the white water lily are the largest (up to 15 cm in diameter), fragrant, white, solitary. The flower is bisexual (has male and female organs), flowering time is 3-4 days. The calyx of the water lily flower is four-leafed, green in color, the corolla consists of white petals. There are many stamens, the stigma is multifid, radiate. After fertilization, the petals fall off, and the pistil grows, turning under water into a barrel-shaped fruit-box, inside which numerous mealy seeds ripen. The flowering of the water lily is a very interesting and unforgettable sight. The original flowers open instantly, right before your eyes, and throughout the day they turn to follow the movement of the sun. Towards evening, the buds close and are completely immersed in water. In windy or rainy weather, water lily flowers do not appear above the surface of the water; its buds are closed. This feature of the plant allows you to determine the weather: if the buds do not open in the morning, you need to expect bad weather in the evening, and vice versa, water lily flowers opened in the morning foreshadow a sunny day. Fishermen have their own sign: the fish have left those places where the water lily flowers did not open in the morning. The formula of the white water lily flower is *CH4L15-31T75-110P14-20.

Spreading

The white water lily is widespread in Europe, including in Western and Eastern Siberia, in the European part of the Russian Federation, the Urals, Ukraine and Belarus, the North Caucasus and Central Asia. This plant is an inhabitant of reservoirs (lakes, ponds, slow-flowing or standing rivers, the depth of which is no more than 2 meters) of forest and steppe zones. Regardless of the water level, even if it drops significantly, the water lily will actively bloom and bear fruit. Recently, the white water lily can be found in nature less and less often; the plant is listed in the Red Book. The water lily is also grown as an ornamental plant in garden ponds.

Regions of distribution on the map of Russia.

Procurement of raw materials

Almost the entire plant is used for medicinal purposes: rhizomes, flowers, leaves and seeds of the white water lily. The supply of medicinal water lilies is limited, so it is recommended to use existing plants carefully and leave up to half of the specimens in the reservoir. Harvesting of rhizomes of an aquatic plant begins at the beginning of the water lily's flowering and until autumn. The roots are extracted from the bottom of the reservoir using hooks, then they are cleaned of leaf petioles and small roots. The rhizomes are washed well and cut into approximately equal pieces. The raw materials are dried in the attic in a well-ventilated area, avoiding direct sunlight.

Flowers or buds of water lilies are harvested from June to August, that is, during the flowering period of the plant. Given the peculiarities of the opening of the buds, they must be collected before 7 am and no later than 5 pm, before the cups are immersed in water. For medicinal purposes, water lily flowers are used fresh, but sometimes they are dried. A shady, ventilated place is suitable for drying flowers.

The leaves of the white water lily are collected at any time of the day from early spring until the onset of cold weather. Dry the raw materials in a well-ventilated area. The seeds are collected from the surface of the water (they float in specific “capsules”), the fruits of the plant are under water. Seeds and fruits are dried in the shade under the same conditions as other parts of the plant.

Chemical composition

The rhizomes of the white water lily are rich in starch (up to 49%), protein (8%), contain tannins (tannins), the alkaloid nymphein, glycosides nymphalin and myricitrin, gallic and tartaric acid, up to 20% sugars, resin, bitterness, ammonia, gum, essential oil. The petals of the white water lily contain the glycoside nymphalin, which can enhance cardiac activity, and flavonoids (glycosides of kaempferol and quercetin). The seeds of the plant contain almost 10 times less tannins than the roots; essential oils and fatty acids are also found. Water lily leaves contain oxalic acid, flavonoids, and tannins.

Pharmacological properties

The glycoside nymphalin contained in the white water lily has an analgesic and hypnotic effect on the human body. The alkaloid nympheine, found in the rhizomes of the plant, affects the central nervous system and has a psychoactive effect. The leaves contain the flavone glycoside myricitrin, which stimulates cardiac activity. Tannins are effective against staphylococci and salmonella, have an anti-inflammatory and softening effect on the digestive tract. Flavonoids contained in nymphea petals help reduce the fragility of small capillary vessels, regulate blood pressure and the functioning of the heart muscle. Resins have a laxative and antibacterial effect.

Use in folk medicine

Traditional medicine uses white water lily for various diseases. The rhizomes, leaves and flowers of the plant are used for medicinal purposes. Rhizomes in the form of a decoction or alcohol tincture are used as an astringent, used externally for rheumatism, for wounds as a hemostatic agent, for inflammatory processes of the skin, for the treatment of diarrhea, cystitis, dysentery and gonorrhea, for gynecological problems, in particular for leucorrhoea. Water lily roots are often used as mustard plasters. They drink a decoction for tuberculosis, as well as to increase lactation in nursing women. An infusion of white water lily leaves cures ulcers in the mouth. The foliage of the plant is used externally for boils, skin inflammations, neoplasms, dropsy, abscesses, and wounds as an anti-inflammatory agent. Tincture of leaves and stems is indicated for diseases of the kidneys and bladder, intestinal ulcers; a decoction of leaves and roots treats liver diseases and hepatitis. The flowers of the herb are used as a sleeping pill, an analgesic for neuralgia, rheumatism, a sedative for neuroses, depression, an antipyretic and an emollient. Since ancient times, water lilies have been used to treat cramps and get rid of toothache. A decoction or tincture of the seeds was used by singers to strengthen their voices. A decoction of the roots in beer is effective for hair loss. Fresh or canned water lily juice removes freckles and pigmentation on the face and whitens the skin. Water infused with water lily petals is an excellent cosmetic product if used for baths.

Historical reference

The white water lily is the oldest representative of aquatic plants. It is believed that this plant grew back in the time of dinosaurs. In ancient Rus' they knew that the water lily or “overcome grass,” as the peasants called it, had beneficial properties and used its roots, petals and leaves for medicinal purposes. Doctor Avicenna also noted the healing properties of the water lily, using a tincture of the roots for neoplasms of the spleen, and a decoction of the seeds or leaves for poorly healing wounds and ulcers. It was believed that the aquatic plant protects against all troubles and misfortunes, defeats witchcraft and evil spirits. The water lily has long been used by magicians as a love potion; the plant was popularly considered a symbol of mercy, beauty and purity. There is a belief that fairy-tale creatures, nymphs and elves, live on the petals of water lilies. Our ancestors called the water lily the “flower of mermaids” because the long rhizome resembled a tail, and the white flower resembled the body of a mermaid. One of the weeks in June was called “mermaid”. The Slavs believed that these days mermaids turn from white water lilies into bare-haired maidens. During Mermaid Week, girls were afraid to go swimming, they said “the mermaids will tickle you.” Decoctions of water lily rhizomes were once part of the diet of monks, as these drinks pacify, soothe and dull sexual desire. At the monasteries there were large reservoirs with beautiful nymphs, and the monks looked after them.

There are many legends around the world about the origin of the plant. The ancient Greeks believed that the water lily was a white nymph, who, due to unrequited love for Hercules, turned into a snow-white flower - a water lily. North American Indians believe that the water lily flower was formed from sparks from the Polar and Evening stars during a collision, during a dispute over who would catch the arrow of the great Indian leader, launched into the sky. An Italian legend says that the water lilies are the children of the blond beauty Countess Melinda and the ugly swamp king who kidnapped her. A North German legend says that water lilies grew in the place where mermaids died at the hands of an evil nixa (mermaid) who lived in a pond.

The white water lily is a good weather predictor: its flowers close before rain or its buds do not appear at all on the surface of the water before bad weather. The buds open on a sunny day at sunrise and remain open until about 6 pm.

The origin of the Latin name for water lily is also associated with legends and tales. Biologist Carl Linnaeus at one time collected legends about this elegant plant: the name “white nymph” is a consequence of Linnaeus’s passion for the legend of the nymph, rejected by Hercules, and soon turned by the gods into a charming water lily. So white water lily in Latin is white nymphea. The plant acquired the poetic name “water lily” because of the fruit’s similar shape to a pitcher.

Literature

1. Maznev N. Highly effective medicinal plants. Great Encyclopedia: Litres, 2015. – 370 p.

2. Wild edible plants / Ed. acad. V. A. Keller; USSR Academy of Sciences; Moscow nerd. garden and Institute of History Mat. culture named after N. Ya. Marra. - M.: b. i., 1941. - P. 8. - 40 p.

3. Encyclopedic reference book. Treatment with plants. - M.: “ANS Publishing House”, 2005. - 1024 p.

White water lily, also known as water lily lily is a herbaceous plant that lives in water - lakes, river backwaters, ponds. Its roots are long and thickly branched, they need a weak current. The flower is rightfully considered the most beautiful inhabitant of water. It is listed in the Red Book of many regions as an endangered species.

Legendary plant

The white water lily from the Red Book is truly fabulous, it’s not for nothing that there are many myths and legends about it. In the history of many nations, it is called a talisman that can help against illness, the evil eye, conspiracy, and various evil spirits.

Note! In numerous rituals using the plant, it is not the charming flower that is involved, but the rhizome.

According to an old belief, a traveler who takes the root of this plant with him on the road will be protected from all diseases and evil spirits that may overtake him along the way. Another name is overcoming grass, that is, grass that can overcome everything.

For the ancient Greeks, the water lily was a symbol of beauty and chastity; a wreath of water lily flowers was woven for girls who were getting married. If we turn to Latin, the name of the water lily is nymph, that is, a semi-deity who is part of nature.

Weather by water lily

The water lily accurately predicts the weather! Main signs:

If in the middle of the day the flower is completely or partially closed, you should wait for rain.
If by 9 o'clock in the morning the flower has not yet bloomed, then by lunchtime it will rain.
If the bud opens at 7-8 and closes at 17-18, then you should wait for clear weather.
When the lily has not risen from under the water at all, it is better to hurry home, as a long and cold downpour is coming.
If in the middle of the day the flower closes and hides under the water, expect bad weather.
When the leaves have completely covered the surface of the reservoir, frosts can no longer be expected.

Myth of Nymphea

This legend tells of a young girl who one day got lost in the forest. In her wanderings, she came across a forest lake, which was so beautiful that the girl wanted to stay there forever. She was tired from her journey and fell asleep on the shore. The gods liked this beauty and turned her into a lake nymph. The nymphea fell asleep at the bottom of the lake every night, and at dawn she rose and washed herself in the first rays of the sun. She lured men to her who were drowning in deep but beautiful waters.

And one day a very handsome young guy came to the shore of the lake and the nymph fell in love with him. But he did not succumb to her charms and did not go to the bottom. She waited a long time for her beloved, and it was this wonderful feeling that turned her into a beautiful white water lily, the flower of which can be seen in the photo.

Other memories of the plant

The white lily is often remembered not only in myths and legends, but also in poems and songs. It is with it that the beauty of the water surface is associated. Anyone who has ever seen this plant on the surface of water will certainly understand the admiration for its beauty.

Description of the water lily

The pure white water lily grows only in fresh water bodies. It is fragile in appearance, but its rhizome reaches 3 meters. Distributed throughout almost the entire territory of Europe, in some places it is found in Central Asia. It is successfully used in medicine – both traditional and folk. For this and for its attractive appearance, the water lily has earned universal love.

Roots

They cling tightly to the muddy surface of the reservoir. The root is thick and strong, its color is dark brown. It is creeping and has leaf petioles on the surface. The rhizome is densely filled with air channels, which guarantees the flower's breathing and strengthens the tissue. Due to this system, water lilies are very difficult to pick.

Stems and leaves

The stems are erect, or more precisely, erect-floating, their cross-section is round. Due to its dense structure, the plant does not move when there is a gust of wind. Does not produce additional stems. The roots are located under water, and the stem stretches all the way to the surface of the water. Its color ranges from burgundy-green to light green depending on the age of the plant.

The leaves float on the surface, not attached to the stem. Their color and heart-shaped shape. The diameter is up to 35 cm, the petiole has the same length as the whole plant, it is connected to the rhizome.

Flowers

This is what is considered the most beautiful thing about the water lily. When asked what a white water lily looks like (pictured), almost everyone can describe the flower. It is large and deep white. The peduncles are large, up to 20 cm in diameter. The calyx consists of 4-5 petals, the flower itself has many petals, they are located densely along the contour, stamens.

The water lily blooms and pleases with its flowering only in sunny weather and exclusively in the morning. In the evening, when the sun sets below the horizon, it closes. Flowering can be observed from late June to early September. The aroma of the flower is weak.

Fruit

The flowering of the water lily results in fruits. They are green in color and pitcher-shaped - hence the name. They ripen under water by the end of August - beginning of September.

Beautiful and dangerous

No matter how beautiful the white water lily is, not everyone still knows that it is poisonous. The flower is the most dangerous, followed by the stems and leaves. Although the roots are used for food, they are edible only after heat treatment.

When used externally, there is a risk of allergic reactions in case of individual intolerance.

Important! Children under 2 years of age should not use any preparations based on water lily. In extreme cases, this is possible, but only after consulting a doctor.

Those who work with the plant in bodies of water also need to exercise extreme caution. It is important to remember that some fish cannot tolerate this plant, especially if they are aquarium fish. The danger increases if the stem or flower is damaged. Most cyprinids are insensitive to white water lily.

Contact of children with the stem and flower should be prevented. If this happens, you need to urgently wash your hands with soap and prevent juice from getting into your mouth and eyes. That is why this beautiful but poisonous plant is not used to decorate ponds in places of children's games and leisure.

White water lily: collecting a plant for treatment

It is undesirable to collect flowers, leaves and rhizomes in the territory where the water lily lives, as this leads to its destruction. The plant population renews itself very slowly. If conditions allow for collection, then this must be done extremely carefully. Some important points:

You need to make sure that the target plant is definitely a water lily. If a mistake occurs, then at best the drug will not help, and at worst it will harm your health.
Collection should be carried out in places of intensive growth.
Leaves and flowers are collected during the flowering period. It is during this period that the green parts have the maximum content of nutrients.
The roots are collected from flowering until the end of autumn, while they can be reached.
The parts of the water lily are laid out in a thin layer, the rhizomes are pre-washed and cut into thin slices and dried. The drying temperature should not exceed +60 °C. Dried leaves, flowers and roots can be stored for 2 years.

Conclusion

The beauty and benefits of the white water lily are simply amazing. But you need to act carefully with her; it’s not for nothing that she is associated with forest nymphs, who, according to legend, destroyed people with their beauty.

Water lily, water lily, mermaid flower and, finally, nymph - all these names belong to the most beautiful perennial that grows in ponds with standing water, river backwaters and mini-ponds in suburban areas.

General information

The nymphea is native to tropical waters of Africa and South America. It can also be found in Europe. Botanists count 35 varieties of wild crops and many varieties that have been cultivated and grown in ponds.

Water lily inflorescences can be white, pink, yellow, cherry, red and peach, blue and pale purple. Flowers float on the water surface among round, large leaves.

Inflorescences and leaves grow on thick, strong stems, which are connected to the root system located in the soil of the reservoir or special containers. Nymphea can be large, dwarf and medium. Frost-resistant varieties are also available.

Planting this unusually beautiful flower in your pond is quite simple; besides, caring for the plant is minimal if the gardener creates the necessary conditions for it.

Varieties and types of water lilies

- refers to large varieties. It will grow in Africa and Eurasia in quiet river backwaters. It has large dark green leaf blades and large white inflorescences with yellow anthers that have a delicate aroma.

– the plant belongs to small varieties. It grows in reservoirs in the middle part of our country. The leaf blades have a dark green tint, a round shape with a part dissected at the base. The inflorescences are small, white in color with a pleasant aroma.

– nymphea is one of the smallest and easiest varieties to breed. It has round leaf plates of a green hue with red streaks. The inflorescences are small, pale yellow with a light aroma.

– the plant belongs to small varieties. The culture has large red leaf blades with black specks. The inflorescences are small, white, and have a pleasant aroma. Flowering time occurs in the first half of summer and ends in early autumn. This variety can be grown in both ponds and aquariums.

– the plant belongs to small varieties. The water lily has large olive green leaves with a patterned edge. The inflorescences are bright pink with a yellow center, resembling a lotus in appearance. The flowers have a persistent pleasant aroma.

Refers to large varieties. The leaf blades are large, resembling a plate with raised edges, and there are more veins on the inside of the leaf. The inflorescences are large, snow-white with a yellow anther and a pleasant aroma. Flowering time occurs in mid-summer and ends in early autumn.

– the plant belongs to medium varieties. The leaves are large, flat, round and green in color with a dissected edge. The inflorescences are medium-sized, red-crimson in color with a yellow center. The flowers have a pleasant aroma. The flowering time of nymphs lasts from mid-summer to early autumn.

– the plant belongs to small varieties of water lilies. Grows in Siberia. The leaf blades are small, round and dark green. The inflorescences are small, lilac-pink in color with a yellow center and a pleasant aroma. The water lily blooms from mid-summer.

– has both surface and submerged sheet plates. The surface leaves are large and green in color. Those that grow underwater are smaller and have a red-green hue with dark specks. The inflorescences are white, star-shaped with a pleasant aroma. Flowering time occurs in July and ends in September.

- refers to small varieties of nymphs. The leaf blades are large, round, green-pink in color. The inflorescences are small, pleasantly smelling white with a yellow center. The water lily blooms in mid-summer.

The plant differs from other varieties in its large, round, reddish leaf blades. The inflorescences are large, star-shaped. They can have red, white, blue and gradient shades.

– this variety of water lilies was bred in Thailand. The leaf blades are round, large, dark green with red streaks. The inflorescences are large, located high above the water. The petals have a pink tint with light stripes and a pleasant aroma. The flowering time of the water lily occurs in mid-summer and ends in autumn.

– the plant grows in river backwaters with stagnant water. The leaf blades are large, dark green with a dissected edge at the petiole. The inflorescences are medium-sized, white with a yellow center and a pleasant aroma. The water lily blooms in late June - early July.

– refers to frost-resistant, unpretentious varieties. The leaves of the plant are round, flat, dark green or burgundy. The inflorescences are large, velvety dark cherry in color with a yellow anther. The flowering time of the water lily occurs in July and ends in early autumn.

– the plant belongs to small varieties. The leaf blades are oval with a slightly pointed end. They have a light green tint with dark and burgundy specks. The plant has leaf blades both above and below the water. The inflorescences are small, white in color. This variety of nymphs can be grown both in a pond and in an aquarium.

The culture belongs to large varieties. The leaf blades are round, olive or burgundy in color. In young nymphs the inflorescences are pale pink, while in adult plants they are crimson with white stripes on the petals. This variety was bred in 1910.

– the plant belongs to medium varieties. The water lily grows in Texas. It has large flat leaf blades and small, oval-shaped leaves folded into a cup shape. The flowers are medium-sized, yellow in color, located above the water. The water lily blooms in mid-summer and early autumn.

- refers to small varieties of water lilies. The leaf blades are small, bright green with dark specks. They grow both above and below water. Water lily inflorescences are small, white with a yellow center.

– In the wild, the plant grows in West Africa. The leaf blades are round, small, olive in color with dark and red streaks. The inflorescences are also large, white with pointed petals. The plant blooms from mid-June to early September.

- is an amphibious perennial from the lotus family. It has leathery, dark green leaves on the outside and burgundy on the inside. The inflorescences are medium-sized, blue or pale purple in color with a pleasant aroma. The water lily blooms during the day, in the evening the bud closes and sinks under the water.

Nymphea planting and care in the pond

In order for the nymph to take root, grow and bloom, it must be planted correctly. It is necessary to plant the water lily in a low, wide container with holes at the bottom of the pot. The plant needs them so that its root system can grow and reproduce.

Dwarf varieties can be planted in buckets; large and medium varieties require large containers of 10-12 liters for planting. At a flower shop you can purchase special baskets designed for planting nymphs.

After the container has been selected, it is necessary to lay a special soil mixture into it in layers. A layer of humus should be placed at the bottom of the container, and the prepared substrate on top of it.

When planting a crop (it is best to do this in May or June), the root system should be positioned horizontally, directing the roots down, gradually covering them with soil and compacting them. The edges of the roots, which are at the opposite end of the growing bud, are placed against the wall of the container to allow the root system to grow and develop. To prevent the soil from being washed away by water, it should be mulched on top with a layer of coarse river sand and a layer of pebbles should be laid on top of it.

When planting is completed, the containers must be transferred to the bottom of the pond, to a depth appropriate for the selected variety. The depth of planting a water lily must be calculated starting from the surface of the soil in the pot, and not from the bottom of the reservoir.

It is also necessary to take into account that at the bottom the water has low temperatures, since it is poorly heated by the sun's rays, which means that it will be difficult for the leaf plates and inflorescences to reach the surface of the water. But shallow immersion in a body of water will also have a bad effect on the water lily. Since the leaves grow very quickly, within a week after planting they will appear on the surface, which is extremely undesirable at first. After planting in a pond, the nymphea blooms within a month.

Lilies are considered another most beautiful flower. They are grown when planted and cared for in open ground without much hassle, if you follow the rules of agricultural technology. You can find all the necessary recommendations for growing and care in this article.

Soil for nymphs in still water

Planting soil for water lilies consists of several components, which are taken in equal parts, or rather, it consists of 1/3 part of moist clay soil without lumps, 1/3 part of peat mixed with garden soil and 1/3 part of burnt cow manure.

All components should be mixed and the planting container should be filled with them, and then the plant should be planted in the soil mixture.

Transplanting nymphs

Replanting is necessary for those plants that were placed in pots in the pond. As the root system grows, there will not be enough space in the container for the culture. As a result of this, the inflorescences and leaf plates of the water lily will begin to shrink.

Container nymphs should be replanted every three years. The procedure is simple and is carried out as follows. First, the pot with the water lily is taken out of the water and removed with a soil digger with roots. Then it is transferred to another container of larger volume and covered with new soil, sprinkled with a layer of sand and pebbles on top.

If the gardener wants to immediately propagate the flower, he can simply divide the mother plant into parts. To do this, he needs to take a sharp pruner, disinfect it and cut off sections of the nymph with two or more buds. The resulting divisions are planted in separate pots and placed in a pond for further growth.

When transplanting a water lily from a river to a pond, you should carefully dig up the rhizome from the bottom, pack it in polyethylene with silt and transfer it to a pond in the garden. You can plant the brought water lily either in a pot or directly in a pond, pressing the rhizomes with a heavy object to the bottom of the reservoir.

After some time they will grow into the ground and take root. However, it is best to carry out container transplantation, since in this case the survival rate of the plant is almost one hundred percent.

Fertilizer for nymphs

Only those nymphs that grow in baskets need feeding. To fertilize water lilies, you should use a special fertilizer for aquatic plants intended for ponds.

It is made in the form of mineral cones or sticks, which are inserted into the ground with a flower and dissolve in it. Organic matter cannot be used, as it will cause a decay process and lead to the death of the water lily.

Nymphea bloom

Water lilies bloom mainly from mid-June to mid-September for 3 months. During the day, the flowers bloom, and at night the buds close and go under water.

Inflorescences can be large, small or medium depending on the variety. The colors of water lilies are white, pink, red, peach, yellow, blue, light purple and dark burgundy. All flowers have a subtle pleasant aroma.

After flowering, the water lily forms seeds, which are used for selection; they are rarely used as plant propagation material.

Pruning water lilies

To maintain the decorative appearance of nymphs, wilted and damaged leaf plates should be regularly removed. After flowering, the inflorescences are also cut off.

But if the gardener is going to get seeds, then the flowers are left until the seed material ripens.

Wintering nymphs

Nymph varieties with increased winter hardiness tolerate wintering well in a pond, but only if the roots are under the water column and do not freeze into the ice. If the depth of the reservoir is from 50 to 60 meters, then the water lily will overwinter without problems, since the pond will not freeze to the very bottom. If desired, the pond can be insulated by laying foam on the bottom or covering it with a thick layer of polyethylene.

If the pond is shallow, you can dig a hole at the bottom and place the water lily root system in it for wintering. If the reservoir is shallow and has an artificial bottom, then the water lily along with the pot should be moved indoors. The plant must be stored in a container, packed in a bag with holes for ventilation. The packaged nymph must be transferred to the basement and left there until spring, observing the temperature regime from 0 to +10, as well as monitoring the soil and moistening it in a timely manner.

You can also store the water lily in the refrigerator. For this purpose, you need to remove the crop from the pot, cut off the leaves and stems. Take a plastic bag, fill it with perlite and put the roots in there and then in the refrigerator. From time to time the water lily needs to be taken out and moistened.

Reproduction of nymphs

The most popular method of propagating nymphs is the method of dividing the rhizome.

For this purpose, the mother plant is taken and a section of the root with two or more buds is separated from it. The cut area is immediately treated with charcoal. The separated plant is planted in a container and moved into the pond.

Nymphea growing from seeds

The seed propagation method is used less frequently, since it is suitable only for warm climates and is used mainly for selection. Plants propagated in this way turn out weak and small in color, and bloom only in the fourth year after planting.

To plant a nymph using seeds, seed material is sown in the ground and containers with seedlings are lowered to the bottom of the pond until germination.

Nymphea in the aquarium: planting and care

In an aquarium, a nymph can grow from 25 to 80 centimeters. The leaf blades of the plant will be small, as will the inflorescences that appear in mid-summer. Suitable varieties for aquarium cultivation include rudge, micrantha, stellata, viviparous and tiger nymphea.

To grow a healthy and beautiful plant, you must maintain a certain temperature and light conditions. The water temperature in the aquarium should not fall below +24 degrees, otherwise the nymph will slow down its growth and will not bloom. In order for the crop to produce buds, and not everything to grow into green mass, it is necessary that the water be soft and slightly acidic.

The lighting must be good and rich, otherwise the leaves will begin to fade and become smaller, which will result in the water lily losing its decorative appearance. It is better to place an aquarium with a water lily next to a window so that the sun's rays enter it, and a fluorescent lamp should act as additional lighting. In order for the crop to color and produce seeds, daylight hours must vary from 12 to 14 hours.

The soil for nymphs should be rich in organic matter. Small pebbles are suitable as a base for planting. Then clay, peat and charcoal are added to it. This planting method is suitable for small aquariums. In larger ones, the plant should be planted in a container.

Planting a nymph

To plant a water lily in a pot, you should first put fine expanded clay on the bottom, then a layer of a mixture of one part humus and sand, plus two parts turf. The container should only be 2/3 full. A water lily is planted on the resulting “earth cushion”, and the remaining space is filled with sand and pebbles.

The plant can be propagated by seeds and bush division, which should be done only after the crop has flowered. When transplanting a water lily and rooting it, it is necessary to monitor the pH of the soil mixture and the water temperature, which should not fall below +26 degrees.

If the plant is not thinned out once a year, it will weaken and lose its decorative effect. The dormant period begins in winter. At this time, the temperature should be reduced to +20 degrees. With the onset of March, the water lily is replanted and its life cycle repeats again. Flowering in aquarium varieties occurs either in late summer or early autumn.

With proper care of the water lily, the gardener will be able to admire not only its decorative leaf plates, but also exotic flowers with a pleasant aroma.

Diseases and pests

Water lilies can become ill with diseases of fungal etiology. Since they are located in water, infection occurs very quickly. The main symptom of the disease is yellow leaf blades that begin to become covered with putrefactive spots and disappear .

If the disease occurs, then you should remove the leaf plates and move the water lily along with the basket to another place where there is more sun and the water warms up better. In case of severe infection, it is recommended to remove all leaf blades.

Among the pests for water lilies, aphids pose a serious danger. It feeds on the sap of leaf blades and leads to the destruction of the plant. You can get rid of aphids by washing the leaves with water from a hose or diluting an insecticide solution in water, soaking a sponge in it, squeezing it well and wiping the leaves with it. When processing, it is necessary to ensure that the insecticide does not get into the water.

An earth beetle can attack the nymph. Its danger lies in the fact that the insect larvae are practically invisible and if the water lily is severely infected, it simply dies. Pests can only be eliminated by collecting them manually.

If reeds grow in the pond together with the nymph, it can be attacked by the water lily booger, which eats holes in the leaf blades. To prevent its appearance, it is better not to plant reeds in a pond with nymphs, otherwise it will be extremely difficult to remove this pest.

Problems when growing nymphs

Gardeners who grow nymphs may have some problems.

Most often you encounter the following:

No flowering - a water lily may not bloom for two reasons. Due to improperly selected soil and low temperatures or the container being too deep in the water. After eliminating these shortcomings, the plant will definitely bloom.
Hole sheets - the appearance of holes in the leaf blades is evidence of an attack by the water lily booger. To destroy this pest, the reeds that grow in the pond along with the nymph should be cut down, but in general, it is better not to plant them in the same pond with water lilies.
Green water in a pond with water lilies - this problem is caused by the flowering of duckweed and is not dangerous for the water lily. However, to clear the water of algae, you can filter it or add special preparations that are harmless to the plant, which will completely clear the pond of blooming algae.

If you follow all the rules regarding water lily care, the problems described above will not arise.

Water lilies signs and superstitions

It is believed that the plant is a talisman against everything bad. This flower is suitable only for people with a pure heart. In ancient times, it was believed that only a good person could pick an inflorescence; a bad person, with negative thoughts and intentions, would be drowned by mermaids who protect the grass. It is for this reason that signs appeared regarding the fact that it is impossible to tear a nymph and bring it into the house.

Among the Slavs, this flower was considered a powerful amulet. Those who had to travel frequently took the plant with them as an amulet. It was also believed that the flower could awaken talents in a person and cure any disease.

From ancient times to the present day there has been a sign that a water lily cannot be given as a gift, as it will bring misfortune. In fact, it's exactly the opposite. A bouquet of nymphs given to your other half will allow you to harmonize your relationship and bring positive energy into your home.

Conclusion

In general, these unusually beautiful flowers do not carry any negativity. You can not only give them as gifts and pick them, but also grow them in a pond in your garden.

The main thing is to do it correctly, and then the nymph will delight the gardener with its long flowering in every season for many years.