Jewels of the Pond
Clade - Angiosperms (Flowering plants)
Family - Nymphaeaceae
Genus - Nymphaea
Water lilies are flowering plants that fall into the family Nymphaeaceae. They can be found in both tropical and temperate regions around the world, and are classed as an aquatic herb. They have rhizomes, which are modified stems often found underground, and produce extensions of the root network from nodes. As a result, rhizomes are sometimes called "creeping root stalks".
There are around 6 genera in the the family Nymphaeaeceae, with approximately 58 species. Many species of water lily have waxy-coated leaves that are often rounded and attached to a long stem, which may be filled with air pockets to enable the leaf to float. The image below shows some water lilies on the UEA lake, taken in November 2016.
Water lilies can be seen on lakes or ponds across the UK, and I'm sure many of you have seen them before! These plants are favoured by many garden designers and horticulturalists for their beauty, and as a result they have become an ornamental plant. Water lilies are at their best when they bloom in the summer months, and their flowers offer vibrance and a splash of colour to any pond or lake.
However, water lilies have become an invasive species in numerous countries as a result of their use as an ornamental plant. For example, the Mexican Water Lily, which is indigenous to the Gulf Coast of the USA, is now planted across the country, and in some areas, it has become an invasive species, such as in San Joaquin Valley in California. Invasive species are a problem, as they compete with native species for food and space, and can introduce new diseases into ecosystems.
In California, attempts have been made to control the populations of Mexican water lilies through use of herbicides and by removing them manually from water bodies.
Water lilies can be seen on lakes or ponds across the UK, and I'm sure many of you have seen them before! These plants are favoured by many garden designers and horticulturalists for their beauty, and as a result they have become an ornamental plant. Water lilies are at their best when they bloom in the summer months, and their flowers offer vibrance and a splash of colour to any pond or lake.
However, water lilies have become an invasive species in numerous countries as a result of their use as an ornamental plant. For example, the Mexican Water Lily, which is indigenous to the Gulf Coast of the USA, is now planted across the country, and in some areas, it has become an invasive species, such as in San Joaquin Valley in California. Invasive species are a problem, as they compete with native species for food and space, and can introduce new diseases into ecosystems.
In California, attempts have been made to control the populations of Mexican water lilies through use of herbicides and by removing them manually from water bodies.
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