Nymphaeaceae (water-lily family)

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NYMPHAECEAE
(Water-lily family)




This family is represented by only about 8 genera and over 90 species. Members are cosmopolitan in distribution, except in very cold regions, and are favourite plants for garden pools. They mostly consist of aquatic, perennial herbs. Flowers of water lily (Nymphaea) are variously coloured and open just above the water surface in ponds, while those of crow lily (Nuphar)are golden yellow and extend up and out of water in the pond. 
Some selected Indian genera are: 
  • Nymphaea, 
  • Nelumbo, 
  • Euryale and 
  • Nuphar. 
Nelumbo and Nymphaea lotus are the "sacred lotus" plants of the family. Indian lotus found commonly in shallow ponds, is Nelumbo nucifera. Nymphaea nouchali is the Indian red water-lily. Victoria is a native of South America.

ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE

      ORNAMENTALS
  Because of their beautiful, showy or sweet-scented flowers, several Nymphaceae members are of great ornamental valuator aquatic gardening. Chief among them in India are:
  •  Sacred 'lotus of India' or 'Kamal' (Nelumbo nucifera), 
  • Indian red water-lily (Nymphaea nouchali), 
  • Indian 'blue water-lily' (Nymphaea stellata), 
  • 'Pandharen-kamal' (Nymphaea alba) and 
  • 'Royal water-lily' (Victoria regia).
                          
Nelumbo lutea has yellow flowers while Brasenia schreberi has purple flowers and Nymphaea rubra has red flowers. Nymphaea coerulea with blue flowers, N. capensis with sky blue flowers, N. odorata with pink flowers and N. Mexicana with bright yellow flowers are other species of ornamental value.

 EDIBLE PRODUCTS
    • Seeds of 'gorgan nut' or 'Makhana' (Euryale forex) are roasted and eaten,
    • The vegetable 'kamal-kakri' or lotus stem, is actually the rhizome of Nymphaea nouchali,
    • Fruiting torus, flowers, rhizomes, young leaves and petioles of Nelumbo nucifera are used as vegetable.
    • Rhizomes of Nymphaea stellata are also edible,
    • Seeds of Victoria regia are roasted an eaten.

          MEDICINAL VALUE
    • Flowers of Nelumbo nucifera are recommended as cardiac tonic and also used in curing diseases of liver and skin, and its dried and powdered rhizome is used to cure piles.
    • Rhizomes of Nymphaea nouchali are used to cure dysentery and diarrhoea.
    • Flowers of Nelumbo nucifera yield a valuable perfume.
    • Nymphaea stellata is used to cure cardiac pains.


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