Skip to main content
ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #85459
Title: OBSERVATIONS ON NATIVE NYMPHAEA OF NORTHERN NORTH AMERICA AND THEIR USE IN WATER GARDENING

Author
item HELLQUIST, C - NO.ADAMS STATE COLLEGE
item Wiersema, John

Submitted to: Water Garden Journal
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/1/1997
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: Horticultural crops are a fast-growing segment of the agricultural economy yet little is known about the sources of these crops including those that originate within the United States. Among those that originate here, hardy waterlilies occur naturally in the northern regions and many of these are used in water gardening. This paper presents an account of the native hardy water lilies in the genus Nymphaea including new information about their occurrence in nature. The morphological characteristics of several species are presented that are useful in making field identifications. This paper will be used by those seeking new germplasm to be used as horticultural plants in water gardening.

Technical Abstract: The four native hardy water lilies of northern North America are discussed. Nymphaea odorata subsp. odorata, N. odorata subsp. tuberosa, N. leibergii, and N. tetragona are briefly described and distinguished. Comments on the distribution, natural variation, and horticultural importance or usefulness are provided for each. A discussion on natural hybridization among these taxa is also presented.