Nymphaea Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Nymphaea

European white water-lily (Nymphaea alba)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Division:	Magnoliophyta
Class:	Magnoliopsida
Order:	Nymphaeales
Family:	Nymphaeaceae
Genus:	Nymphaea L.

Nymphaea is a group of amazing water plants. They are often called water-lilies. You can find about 50 different kinds of these plants. They grow all over the world in fresh water. Many people grow them because their flowers are so beautiful.

Water-Lilies: Beautiful Aquatic Plants
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Water-Lilies: Beautiful Aquatic Plants

Water-lilies are a type of aquatic plant. This means they live in water. They belong to a plant family called Nymphaeaceae. These plants are famous for their stunning flowers. Their leaves float on the surface of the water.

What Makes a Water-Lily Special?

Water-lilies have unique features. Their large, round leaves float on the water. These leaves are often called lily pads. The flowers are usually big and colorful. They can be white, pink, red, yellow, or blue. Many flowers open during the day and close at night. Some even do the opposite!

Where Do Water-Lilies Live?

You can find water-lilies in many parts of the world. They grow in freshwater habitats. This includes ponds, lakes, and slow-moving rivers. They need calm, shallow water to thrive. Different species are found in different climates. Some prefer warm, tropical areas. Others can survive in cooler, temperate regions.

Amazing Facts About Water-Lilies

Water-lilies have long stems. These stems connect the leaves and flowers to the mud below.
Their leaves have special air spaces. These spaces help them float on the water.
Some water-lilies are very large. The giant water-lily can have leaves over 2 meters (6 feet) wide!
Water-lilies provide shade for fish. They also offer a place for small animals to live.
Some types of water-lilies have a lovely scent. This attracts insects for pollination.

Water-Lilies Around the World

Many water-lily species are grown as ornamental plants. This means people grow them just for their beauty. There are also many special types created by growers. These are called cultivars.

Several countries have chosen a water-lily as their national flower. This shows how important and beautiful these plants are.

The Nymphaea alba (White water-rose) is the national flower of Kazakhstan.
The Nymphaea amazonica (Victorian water-lily) is the national flower of Guyana.
The Nymphaea lotus (White water-lily) is the national flower of Egypt.
The Nymphaea pubescens (Pink water-lily) is the national flower of Bangladesh.
The Nymphaea stellata (Blue water-lily) is the national flower of Sri Lanka.

Nymphaea alba
Nymphaea amazonica
Nymphaea lotus
Nymphaea nouchali
Nymphaea pubescens
Nymphaea stellata

Images for kids

A bright-field micrograph of a cross-section of a floating leaf of Nymphaea alba.
- E1: upper epiderm
- E2: lower epiderm
- P: palisade mesophyll
- M: spongy mesophyll
- B: vascular bundle
- I: intercellular gap
- S: sclerenchyma
Nymphaea stellata
'Escarboucle'
Blue lotus (Nymphaea caerulea) on an 18th Dynasty jar found at Amarna
Water Lilies by Claude Monet, 1906
Nymphaea alba
Nymphaea colorata
Nymphaea gigantea
Nymphaea nouchali
Nymphaea 'Attraction'
Nymphaea laydekeri purpurata
Nymphaea mexicana
Nymphaea capensis
Nymphaea candida
Nymphaea × daubenyana