Nymphaea
944428
224384742
2008-07-08T16:51:09Z
Minghong
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/* External links */
{{Taxobox
| name = ''Nymphaea''
| image = Nymphaea alba.jpg
| image_width = 270px
| image_caption = ''Nymphaea alba''
| regnum = [[Plant]]ae
| divisio = [[Flowering plant|Magnoliophyta]]
| classis = [[Magnoliopsida]]
| ordo = [[Nymphaeales]]
| familia = [[Nymphaeaceae]]
| genus = '''''Nymphaea'''''
| genus_authority = [[L.]]
| subdivision_ranks = Species
| subdivision =
About 50 species, including:<br/>
''[[Nymphaea alba]]'' - European White Water-lily<br/>
''[[Nymphaea amazonum]]'' <br/>
''[[Nymphaea ampla]]'' <br/>
''[[Nymphaea blanda]]'' <br/>
''[[Nymphaea caerulea]]'' - Egyptian Blue Water-lily<br/>
''[[Nymphaea calliantha]]'' <br/>
''[[Nymphaea candida]]'' <br/>
''[[Nymphaea capensis]]'' - Cape Blue Water-lily<br/>
''[[Nymphaea citrina]]'' <br/>
''[[Nymphaea colorata]]'' <br/>
''[[Nymphaea elegans]]'' <br/>
''[[Nymphaea fennica]]'' <br/>
''[[Nymphaea flavovirens]]'' <br/>
''[[Nymphaea gardneriana]]'' <br/>
''[[Nymphaea gigantea]]'' - Australian Water-lily<br/>
''[[Nymphaea heudelotii]]'' <br/>
''[[Nymphaea jamesoniana]]'' <br/>
''[[Nymphaea lotus]]'' - Egyptian White Water-lily<br/>
''[[Nymphaeae lutea]]'' - Yellow water-lily or Brandy bottle<br/>
''[[Nymphaea macrosperma]]'' - Native to Australia's Top End</br>
''[[Nymphaea mexicana]]'' - Yellow Water-lily<br/>
''[[Nymphaea micrantha]]'' <br/>
''[[Nymphaea odorata]]'' - Fragrant Water-lily<br/>
''[[Nymphaea pubescens]]'' <br/>
''[[Nymphaea rubra]]'' - India Red Water-lily<br/>
''[[Nymphaea rudgeana]]'' <br/>
''[[Nymphaea stellata]]'' - Blue Water-lily ([[National flower]] of [[Sri Lanka]])<br/>
''[[Nymphaea stuhlmannii]]'' <br/>
''[[Nymphaea sulfurea]]'' <br/>
''[[Nymphaea tetragona]]'' - Pygmy Water-lily<br/>
}}
'''''Nymphaea''''' is a [[genus]] of [[aquatic plant]]s in the family [[Nymphaeaceae]]. There are about 50 species in the genus, which has a [[cosmopolitan distribution]].
==Name==
The common name, shared with some other genera in the same family, is '''water-lily''' or '''waterlily'''.
The name ''Nymphaea'' comes from the [[Ancient Greek language|Greek]] term "Νυμφαία", possibly related to "Νύμφη" meaning "nymph". The [[nymph]]s in [[Greek mythology]] were supernatural feminine beings associated with [[spring (hydrosphere)|springs]], so the application of the name to delicately flowered [[aquatic plant]]s is understandable.
==Description==
''Nymphaea'' [[Leaf|leaves]] have a radial notch from the circumference to the [[Petiole (botany)|petiole]] (leaf stem) in the center.
==Classification==
Despite their name, water-lilies are not related to the true lilies (family [[Liliaceae]]). The name "lily" is applied to a number of plants that are not at all closely related, such as [[Daylily|day lilies]], [[Hymenocallis| spider lilies]] and [[Zantedeschia|arum lilies]], in addition to the water lilies. ''Nymphaea'' (Egyptian lotuses) are also not related to the Chinese and Indian lotus of genus ''[[Nelumbo]]'', which are used in [[Asia]]n cooking and sacred to [[Hinduism]] and [[Buddhism]].
However, the genus ''Nymphaea'' is closely related to ''[[Nuphar]]'', another genus commonly called "lotus". In ''Nymphaea'', the [[flower]] [[petal]]s are much larger than the [[sepal]]s, whereeas in ''Nuphar'' the petals are much smaller than its sepals. The [[fruit]] maturation also differs, with ''Nymphaea'' fruit sinking below the water level immediately after the flower closes, whereas ''Nuphar'' fruit are held above water level to maturity. Both genera share [[Leaf|leaves]] with a radial notch from the circumference to the [[Petiole (botany)|petiole]] (leaf stem) in the center.
==Cultural significance==
[[Image:Nymphaea-lotus.jpg|thumb|left|Egyptian White Water-lily (''Nymphaea lotus'') from Curtis's Botanical Magazine]]
The [[Ancient Egyptian religion|ancient Egyptians]] revered the [[Nile]] water-lilies, or '''lotuses''' as they were also called. The lotus motif is a frequent feature of temple column architecture.
The [[Nymphaea caerulea|Egyptian Blue Water-lily]], ''N. caerulea'', opens its [[flower]]s in the morning and then sinks beneath the water at dusk, while the [[Nymphaea lotus|Egyptian White Water-lily]], ''N. lotus'', flowers at night and closes in the morning. This symbolizes the Egyptian separation of deities and is a motif associated with Egyptian beliefs concerning death and the afterlife. The recent discovery of psychedelic properties of the blue lotus may also have been known to the Egyptians and explain its ceremonial role. Remains of both [[flower]]s have been found in the burial tomb of [[Ramesses II]].
The French [[painter]] [[Claude Monet]] is famous for his paintings of water lilies.
==Cultivation==
Many of the water-lilies familiar in [[water garden]]ing are [[Hybrid (biology)|hybrids]].
{{-}}
== Gallery ==
<gallery>
Image:WaterLily-BlackPrincess.JPG|Black Princess waterlily
Image:睡蓮(gaytw.blogspot.com).1.jpg|
Image:睡蓮(gaytw.blogspot.com).2.jpg|
Image:睡蓮(gaytw.blogspot.com).3.jpg|
</gallery>
==References==
*Perry D. Slocum: ''Waterlilies and Lotuses''. Timber Press 2005, ISBN 0881926841 ([http://books.google.de/books?id=V62dfNKTPP0C&pg=PA79&dq=%22Nymphaea+colorata%22&lr=&sig=jbavgQBqVNQuB3sXqTneC9Htz64#PPA79,M1 restricted online version at Google Books])
==External links==
*[http://www.botanik.de/mendel/image-galleries/blumen/seerosen Nymphaea Hybrids]
*[http://www.victoria-adventure.org/water_gardening/history/first_hybrid_waterlilies.html Kit Notts, "The first hybrid waterlilies"]
[[Category:Aquatic plants]]
[[Category:Flowers]]
[[Category:Nymphaeaceae]]
[[Category:Medicinal plants]]
[[Category:National symbols of Sri Lanka]]
[[Category:Nymphaea|*]]
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