Al Schneider's Rocky Mountains Plant Descriptions

Western Yellow Pond-lily
Nuphar polysepala
Water Lilies family (Nymphaeaceae)

Yellow Pond-lily's network of roots, leaves, and seeds provides habitat for a broad range of aquatic animals, from muskrat and ducks to fish and insects. The foliage of this species is reasonably attractive, but it has a tendency to deteriorate as the season progresses. Pond-lilies can grow and reproduce rapidly, completely covering the surface of small ponds in a few short weeks. Their flowers are said to be "modest" since they appear perpetually reluctant to fully open.


©2009 Keir Morse

Description

Aquatic , up to 6' long, with floating leaves. Single floating cup-like flowers comprised of 6-9 yellow, waxy petal-like enclosing 10-20 true petals and red-purple around prominent . Leaves large (up to 16" long), round- to heart-shaped, leathery with wavy edges. Flower and leaf stalks thick and fleshy. is a leathery, , egg-shaped . , up to 15' long, anchor plant to bottom substrate.

Field Marks

Aquatic plant with large round leaves and yellow round flowers

© Al Schneider

stamen -- the pollen-producing reproductive organ of a flower; The stamen consists of an anther supported by a filament.

A perennial plant lives and blooms for many years.

A herb is a plant whose stems die back to the ground in the winter.

ribbed -- having prominent, narrow parallel protrusions that extend over most of its length or circumference.

Usually green, sepals typically function as protection for the flower in bud, and often as support for the petals when in bloom.

capsule -- a type of simple, dry fruit produced by many species of flowering plants. In most cases the capsule splits apart to release seeds.

fruit -- any seed-bearing structure in flowering plants. It is formed from the ovary after flowering.

stigma - The tip of a pistil that receives the pollen.

rhizome -- root-like stems that may either grow horizontally at the soil surface or in other orientations underground.

lobe -- Being divided by clefts.