Nuphar pumila

Nuphar pumila, the least water-lily[1] or small yellow pond-lily, is an aquatic perennial plant in the Nymphaeaceae family. It is also known as dwarf water lily because it is the dwarf species of Nuphar lutea; while Nuphar pumila has a star-shaped, or lobed form of the stigma disc and glabrous leaf undersides, Nuphar lutea has a round stigma disc and the undersides of its leaves are occasionally fine-haired on the midribs. Its flowers bloom from July to August and are typically pollinated by flies.

Nuphar pumila
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Order: Nymphaeales
Family: Nymphaeaceae
Genus: Nuphar
Section: Nuphar sect. Nuphar
Species:
N. pumila
Binomial name
Nuphar pumila

The plant is more successful in sunny environments, predominantly in lakes, ponds and slow-flowing parts of rivers from Northern and Central Europe to Northern Asia, with a few noted habitats in North America; Nuphar pumila is considered endangered in France, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.

Description

Nuphar pumila flowers typically have 4–6 petals, are actinomorphic, have many stamen and range from yellow to green depending on maturity. Its floating leaves are large and ovate, with pinnate venation, while the submerged leaves are smaller and round; the plant also has a thick creeping rhizome.

Distribution

Nuphar pumila can be found in western Mongolia, Austria, Switzerland, Czech Republic, Germany, Spain, Denmark, Finland, Lithuania, Latvia, Norway, Poland, Sweden, UK and France.

Nuphar pumila can also be found in the United States (at least Michigan's upper peninsula).[2]

Taxonomy

The Nymphaeaceae family, also known as the water-lily family,[3] comprises eight genera and 70 species; taxonomic synonyms include Nuphar lutea subsp. pumila, Nuphar microphylla, and Nuphar minima.

Nuphar pumila is also known as Bwlyts Lleiaf in Welsh, Konnanulpukka in Finnish, Kleine Teichrose in German, "Бяцхан сахуу цэцэг" in Mongolian and Stulík malý in Czech.[4][5]

Uses

The root can be consumed to help alleviate digestive problems or serve as a tonic.

References

  1. "BSBI List 2007". Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland. Archived from the original (xls) on 25 January 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2014.
  2. "Nuphar pumila (Small yellow pond lily)". Rare Species Explorer. Michigan Natural Features Inventory. Archived from the original on 28 September 2012. Retrieved 22 May 2012.
  3. "Water lily". Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved 17 August 2013.
  4. "Nuphar pumila" (PDF). Plantlives.com. Retrieved 17 August 2013.
  5. "Least Water-lily". LuontoPortti/NatureGate. Retrieved 17 August 2013.
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