Nymphaea odorata - Fragrant Water Lily
 The
white (or sometimes pink) flowers of this plant usually open in the morning
until midday and are arguably the most beautiful of the aquatic plants.
They have adapted well to life in the water. The spongy stems that support
the leaves and flowers have hollow channels to transport gasses to and
from the rhizomes (large, underground stems). Most terrestrial plants have
small openings (stomata) on the underside of their leaves for gas exchange.
Because the underside of these leaves are in the water, the stomata of
N. odorata are instead on the upper surface.
The young, unrolling leaves and flower buds can be boiled and eaten with a little butter. The seeds can also be prepared like those of the Bullhead Lily. The Rhizomes are a favorite food of muskrats and have been used as a folk cure for many ailments, though I have found no strong evidence to suggest medicinal effectiveness. |
| Family: Water Lily (Nymphaeaceae)
Blooms: June through September Fruit: Fleshy, ripens beneath the water on a coiled stalk. Native to: Photo location: Bitten Lake, Brighton, MI |
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