PlantaeDB Logo
Login Sign-up

Nymphaea lotus

Table of Contents

Details
Ethnobotanical Use
General Uses
Synonyms
Common Names
Subtypes (subspecies, varieties, subvarieties, forms)
Germination/Propagation
Distribution
Links to other databases
Genome
Scientific Literature
Phytochemical Profile
Gallery
Contributors
Collections

Details Top

Internal ID UUID643ff6798016b400474768
Scientific name Nymphaea lotus
Authority L.
First published in Sp. Pl. : 511 (1753)

Ethnobotanical Use Top

Write a new one!
No ethnobotanical data added yet. Help us by writing one.

General Uses Top

Suggest a correction!

Common products:
Nymphaea lotus is primarily a cultivated ornamental species used in horticulture as an aquarium and pond plant. Cultivars are traded under species names in the aquatic plant trade (e.g., N. lotus “Red”).

Food and beverages (non-medicinal):
Mature seeds are documented as edible; they are sometimes roasted and ground to a flour for porridge and flatbread in parts of tropical Africa. Tubers/rhizomes are similarly reported as edible after thorough cooking. No specific commercial food products are widely established, and use remains localized and non-industrial.

Colorants and tanning:
No documented dye, ink, or tannin uses are recorded for this species.

Fragrance and cosmetics:
No documented fragrance or cosmetic uses are recorded for this species.

Wood and fiber:
No timber or fiber applications are documented.

Industrial and craft applications:
No documented industrial, craft, resin, gum, starch, oil, adhesive, biofuel, or bioplastic uses are recorded.

Properties relevant to use:
Horticultural suitability stems from its leaf morphology (broad, mottled surfaces in many cultivars) and tolerance of low-light, aquatic environments suitable for aquarium cultivation.

Standards and regulation:
Horticultural trade follows general plant import/export rules; no species-specific standards for this plant are noted in public references.

Sustainability and sourcing:
Wild collection is not documented as a major supply pathway for the ornamental trade; cultivated propagation is typical. No specific conservation concerns or sustainability standards are cited in public references for this species.

Synonyms Top

Scientific name Authority First published in
Nymphaea aegyptiaca Opiz Naturalientausch 10: 216 (1825)
Nymphaea liberiensis A.Chev. Fl. Afrique Occ. Franc. i. 92 (1938), gallice.
Nymphaea leucantha Peter Abh. Königl. Ges. Wiss. Göttingen, Math.-Phys. Kl. , n.f., 13(2): 76 (1928)
Nymphaea reichardiana F.Hoffm. Beitr. Fl. Centr.-Ost-Afr. : 7 (1889)
Nymphaea ortgiesiana Planch. Fl. Serres Jard. Eur. 8: 68 (1852)
Nymphaea acutidens Peter Abh. Königl. Ges. Wiss. Göttingen, Math.-Phys. Kl. , n.f., 13(2): 78 (1928)
Nymphaea hypotricha Peter Abh. Königl. Ges. Wiss. Göttingen, Math.-Phys. Kl. , n.f., 13(2): 78 (1928)
Nymphaea fragrantissima Welw. ex Casp. J. Sci. Mat. Phys. Nat. 16: 322 (1873)
Nymphaea edulis DC. Syst. Nat. 2: 52 (1821)
Nymphaea esculenta Roxb. Fl. Ind. ed. 1832 , 2: 578 (1832)
Nymphaea coteka Roxb. ex Salisb. Parad. Lond. 1: t. 14 (1805)
Nymphaea boucheana Planch. Fl. Serres Jard. Eur. 10: t. 1033 (1854)
Leuconymphaea lotus Kuntze Revis. Gen. Pl. 1: 11 (1891)
Castalia edulis Salisb. Parad. Lond. 1: t. 14 (1805)
Castalia lotus Tratt. Flora 5: 598 (1822)
Castalia mystica Salisb. Parad. Lond. 1: t. 14 (1805)
Castalia pubescens Blume Bijdr. Fl. Ned. Ind. 2: 48. 1825 [12 Jun-2 Jul 1825]
Castalia sacra Salisb. Parad. Lond. 1: t. 14 (1805)
Nymphaea lotus var. rogeonii A.Chev. Bull. Mus. Natl. Hist. Nat. II, 4: 5 1932
Nymphaea dentata Schumach. & Thonn. Beskr. Guin. Pl. : 249 (1827)

Common names Top

Add a new one! Suggest a correction!

Language Common/alternative name
English egyptian water-lily
English white egyptian lotus
English white lotus
English tiger lotus
English egyptian white water-lily
Spanish nenúfar blanco egipcio
Spanish nenufar blanco egipcio
Spanish loto tigre
Spanish lirio de agua egipcio
Afrikaans witwaterlelie
Arabic زنبقة الماء المصرية البيضاء
Arabic ميس
Arabic العروس
Arabic بشنين
Arabic لوطس
Arabic نفر
Arabic زنبق الماء المصري الأبيض
Arabic لوتس نمري
Arabic نيلوفر اللوتس
Bambara nkɔku
Catalan lotus egipci
Catalan lotus blanc
Czech leknín lotosový
Czech leknín posvátný
Czech leknín egyptský
dag kulchi
German tigerlotus
German tigerlotos
Basque loto-lore
Persian نیلوفر آبی ببری
Finnish tiikerilumme
French lotus tigré
French lotus d'Égypte
grc λωτός
Hebrew נימפאת הלוטוס
Upper Sorbian egyptowska lotoska
Japanese ヨザキスイレン
Macedonian египетски воден божур
Burmese ကြာဖြူပန်း
Polish grzybienie egipskie
Polish grzybień egipski
Polish lotos egipski
Polish lotos tygrysi
Punjab مصری رات اپسرا
Portuguese nenúfar branco
Portuguese lótus-do-egipto
Portuguese lótus branco
Portuguese lótus-sagrado-do-egito
Portuguese loto-sagrado-do-egito
Slovak lekno egyptské
Swedish tigerlotus
Swedish tropisk näckros
Swedish egyptisk vitlotus
Tamil குவளை
Thai บัวสาย
Ukrainian Німфея лотус
Ukrainian Лотос єгипетський
Chinese 齿叶睡莲
Chinese 斑荷根

Subspecies (abbr. subsp./ssp.) Top

Add a new one! Suggest a correction!
No subspecies added yet.

Varieties (abbr. var.) Top

Add a new one! Suggest a correction!
Name Authority First published in
Nymphaea lotus var. thermalis (DC.) Tuzson Unknown
Nymphaea lotus var. lotus Unknown

Subvarieties (abbr. subvar.) Top

Add a new one! Suggest a correction!
No subvariety added yet.

Forms (abbr. f.) Top

Add a new one! Suggest a correction!
No forms added yet.

Germination/Propagation Top

Suggest a correction or add new data!
No germination or propagation data was added yet.

Distribution (via POWO/KEW) Top

Legend for the distribution data:
- Doubtful data
- Extinct
- Introduced
- Native
  • Africa
    • East Tropical Africa
      • Kenya
      • Tanzania
      • Uganda
    • Northeast Tropical Africa
      • Chad
      • Ethiopia
      • Somalia
      • Sudan
    • Northern Africa
      • Egypt
    • South Tropical Africa
      • Angola
      • Malawi
      • Mozambique
      • Zambia
      • Zimbabwe
    • Southern Africa
      • Botswana
      • Kwazulu-Natal
      • Northern Provinces
      • Swaziland
    • West Tropical Africa
      • Benin
      • Burkina
      • Gambia
      • Ghana
      • Guinea
      • Guinea-Bissau
      • Ivory Coast
      • Liberia
      • Mali
      • Mauritania
      • Niger
      • Nigeria
      • Senegal
      • Sierra Leone
      • Togo
    • West-central Tropical Africa
      • Burundi
      • Cameroon
      • Central African Republic
      • Congo
      • Gabon
      • Gulf Of Guinea Islands
      • Rwanda
      • Zaïre
    • Western Indian Ocean
      • Madagascar
      • Mauritius
      • Seychelles
  • Southern America
    • Brazil
      • Brazil North
      • Brazil Northeast
      • Brazil Southeast
    • Central America
      • Costa Rica
      • Panamá
    • Northern South America
      • Guyana
      • Venezuela
    • Western South America
      • Colombia

Links to other databases Top

Suggest others/fix!
Database ID/link to page
World Flora Online wfo-0000382059
UNII 3MK10J5M6Q
Florida Plant Atlas 2005
USDA Plants NYLO
Tropicos 22600022
INPN 447421
KEW urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:605604-1
The Plant List kew-2384395
Open Tree Of Life 27778
Observations.org 132548
NCBI Taxonomy 264924
Nature Serve 2.158498
IUCN Red List 164281
IPNI 605604-1
iNaturalist 165755
GBIF 2882429
Freebase /m/06tf3_
EPPO NYMLO
EOL 486691
USDA GRIN 25437
Wikipedia Nymphaea_lotus

Genomes (via NCBI) Top

No reference genome is available on NCBI yet. We are constantly monitoring for new data.

Scientific Literature Top

Below are displayed the latest 15 articles published in PMC (PubMed Central®) and other sources (DOI number only)!
If you wish to see all the related articles click here.
Title Authors Publication Released IDs
Brood success of sex-role-reversed pheasant-tailed jacanas: the effects of social polyandry, seasonality, and male mating order Lee YF, Kuo YM, Chuang BY, Hsu HC, Huang YJ, Su YC, Lee WC Zoological Lett 30-Apr-2024
PMCID:PMC11061921
doi:10.1186/s40851-024-00231-2
PMID:38689320
Wetland vegetation composition and ecology of Lake Abaya in southern Ethiopia Gojamme DU PLoS One 10-Apr-2024
PMCID:PMC11006174
doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0301795
PMID:38598506
Antiprotozoal Activity of Plants Used in the Management of Sleeping Sickness in Angola and Bioactivity-Guided Fractionation of Brasenia schreberi J.F.Gmel and Nymphaea lotus L. Active against T. b. rhodesiense Vahekeni N, Brillatz T, Rahmaty M, Cal M, Keller-Maerki S, Rocchetti R, Kaiser M, Sax S, Mattli K, Wolfram E, Marcourt L, Queiroz EF, Wolfender JL, Mäser P Molecules 03-Apr-2024
PMCID:PMC11013945
doi:10.3390/molecules29071611
PMID:38611890
An Overview on Flavor Extraction, Antimicrobial and Antioxidant Significance, and Production of Herbal Wines Morya S, Menaa F, Lourenço-Lopes C, Jimenez-Lopez C, Khalid W, Moreno A, Ikram A, Khan KA, Ramniwas S, Mugabi R ACS Omega 02-Apr-2024
PMCID:PMC11024944
doi:10.1021/acsomega.3c09887
PMID:38645323
Vasorelaxant and hypotensive effects of an ethanolic extract of Nymphaea pubescens and its main compound quercetin 3-methyl ether 3′-O-β-xylopyranoside Panklai T, Ingkaninan K, Chootip K, Temkitthawon P, Suphrom N, Tournier-Nappey M, Girard C, Demougeot C, Totoson P Front Pharmacol 21-Mar-2024
PMCID:PMC10991828
doi:10.3389/fphar.2024.1379752
PMID:38576494
Plant-related Philistine ritual practices at biblical Gath Frumin S, Maeir AM, Eniukhina M, Dagan A, Weiss E Sci Rep 12-Feb-2024
PMCID:PMC10861565
doi:10.1038/s41598-024-52974-9
PMID:38347005
Lotus (Nelumbo nucifera): a multidisciplinary review of its cultural, ecological, and nutraceutical significance Yang H, He S, Feng Q, Liu Z, Xia S, Zhou Q, Wu Z, Zhang Y Bioresour Bioprocess 27-Jan-2024
PMCID:PMC10991372
doi:10.1186/s40643-024-00734-y
Plants as Symbols of Power in the Achaemenid Iconography of Ancient Persian Monuments Caneva G, Lazzara A, Hosseini Z Plants (Basel) 27-Nov-2023
PMCID:PMC10707779
doi:10.3390/plants12233991
PMID:38068625
Diverse O-methyltransferases catalyze the biosynthesis of floral benzenoids that repel aphids from the flowers of waterlily Nymphaea prolifera Liu G, Fu J, Wang L, Fang M, Zhang W, Yang M, Yang X, Xu Y, Shi L, Ma X, Wang Q, Chen H, Yu C, Yu D, Chen F, Jiang Y Hortic Res 06-Nov-2023
PMCID:PMC10753166
doi:10.1093/hr/uhad237
PMID:38156285
Biomimetics in Botanical Gardens—Educational Trails and Guided Tours Speck O, Speck T Biomimetics (Basel) 11-Jul-2023
PMCID:PMC10807481
doi:10.3390/biomimetics8030303
PMID:37504191
Editorial: Re-emergence of natural products for drug discovery in honor of Prof. Dr. M. Iqbal Choudhary Hussain H, Siddiqui H, Gerothanassis IP Front Pharmacol 03-Jul-2023
PMCID:PMC10354788
doi:10.3389/fphar.2023.1227732
PMID:37475715
Advances in Natural Product Extraction Techniques, Electrospun Fiber Fabrication, and the Integration of Experimental Design: A Comprehensive Review Ponphaiboon J, Krongrawa W, Aung WW, Chinatangkul N, Limmatvapirat S, Limmatvapirat C Molecules 02-Jul-2023
PMCID:PMC10343563
doi:10.3390/molecules28135163
PMID:37446825
A Review of Classification, Biosynthesis, Biological Activities and Potential Applications of Flavonoids Chen S, Wang X, Cheng Y, Gao H, Chen X Molecules 25-Jun-2023
PMCID:PMC10343696
doi:10.3390/molecules28134982
PMID:37446644
GC-MS analysis of aqueous extract of Nymphaea lotus and ameliorative potential of its biosynthesized gold nanoparticles against cadmium-induced kidney damage in rats Adebayo VA, Adewale OB, Anadozie SO, Osukoya OA, Obafemi TO, Adewumi DF, Idowu OT, Onasanya A, Ojo AA Heliyon 08-Jun-2023
PMCID:PMC10361308
doi:10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e17124
PMID:37484424
Important Medicinal and Food Taxa (Orders and Families) in Kenya, Based on Three Quantitative Approaches Mutie FM, Mbuni YM, Rono PC, Mkala EM, Nzei JM, Phumthum M, Hu GW, Wang QF Plants (Basel) 02-Mar-2023
PMCID:PMC10005506
doi:10.3390/plants12051145
PMID:36904005

Phytochemical Profile Top

Add a new one!
Below are displayed the proven (via scientific papers) natural compounds!
You can also contribute to this by clicking here.
Name PubChem ID Canonical SMILES MW Found in Proof
> Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavones / Flavonols
(8S,9R,10S,11S,12R,17R)-4,5,9,10,11,19,21,24-octahydroxy-17-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-7,14,25,27-tetraoxapentacyclo[16.6.2.12,6.18,12.022,26]octacosa-1(24),2,4,6(28),18,20,22(26)-heptaene-15,23-dione 162852463 Click to see C1C(C2=C(C=C(C3=C2OC(=C(C3=O)O)C4=CC(=C(C(=C4)OC5C(C(C(C(O5)COC1=O)O)O)O)O)O)O)O)C6=CC=C(C=C6)O 626.50 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(03)00238-3
(8S,9R,10S,11S,12R,17S)-4,5,9,10,11,19,21,24-octahydroxy-17-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-7,14,25,27-tetraoxapentacyclo[16.6.2.12,6.18,12.022,26]octacosa-1(24),2,4,6(28),18,20,22(26)-heptaene-15,23-dione 162852460 Click to see C1C(C2=C(C=C(C3=C2OC(=C(C3=O)O)C4=CC(=C(C(=C4)OC5C(C(C(C(O5)COC1=O)O)O)O)O)O)O)O)C6=CC=C(C=C6)O 626.50 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(03)00238-3
(8S,9S,10R,11S,12R,17R)-4,5,9,10,11,19,21,24-octahydroxy-17-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-7,14,25,27-tetraoxapentacyclo[16.6.2.12,6.18,12.022,26]octacosa-1(24),2,4,6(28),18,20,22(26)-heptaene-15,23-dione 9986438 Click to see C1C(C2=C(C=C(C3=C2OC(=C(C3=O)O)C4=CC(=C(C(=C4)OC5C(C(C(C(O5)COC1=O)O)O)O)O)O)O)O)C6=CC=C(C=C6)O 626.50 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(03)00238-3
[2,3-dihydroxy-5-(3,5,7-trihydroxy-4-oxochromen-2-yl)phenyl] (E)-3-[4-[(3R,4S,5S,6R)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]oxyphenyl]prop-2-enoate 162817145 Click to see C1=CC(=CC=C1C=CC(=O)OC2=CC(=CC(=C2O)O)C3=C(C(=O)C4=C(C=C(C=C4O3)O)O)O)OC5C(C(C(C(O5)CO)O)O)O 626.50 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(03)00238-3
4,5,9,10,11,19,21,24-Octahydroxy-17-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-7,14,25,27-tetraoxapentacyclo[16.6.2.12,6.18,12.022,26]octacosa-1(24),2,4,6(28),18,20,22(26)-heptaene-15,23-dione 162852459 Click to see C1C(C2=C(C=C(C3=C2OC(=C(C3=O)O)C4=CC(=C(C(=C4)OC5C(C(C(C(O5)COC1=O)O)O)O)O)O)O)O)C6=CC=C(C=C6)O 626.50 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(03)00238-3
Nympholide A 44259437 Click to see C1C(C2=C(C=C(C3=C2OC(=C(C3=O)O)C4=CC(=C(C(=C4)OC5C(C(C(C(O5)COC1=O)O)O)O)O)O)O)O)C6=CC=C(C=C6)O 626.50 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(03)00238-3
Nympholide B 44259438 Click to see 626.50 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(03)00238-3
> Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavonoid glycosides / Flavonoid 3-O-p-coumaroyl glycosides
[(2R,3S,4S,5R,6S)-6-[5,7-dihydroxy-4-oxo-2-(3,4,5-trihydroxyphenyl)chromen-3-yl]oxy-3,4,5-trihydroxyoxan-2-yl]methyl (E)-3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)prop-2-enoate 163106805 Click to see 626.50 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(03)00238-3
> Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavonoid glycosides / Flavonoid O-glycosides
Myricetin 3'-rhamnoside 56843093 Click to see 464.40 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(03)00238-3
> Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavonoid glycosides / Flavonoid O-glycosides / Flavonoid 3p-O-p-coumaroyl glycosides
[(2R,3S,4S,5R,6S)-6-[2,3-dihydroxy-5-(3,5,7-trihydroxy-4-oxochromen-2-yl)phenoxy]-3,4,5-trihydroxyoxan-2-yl]methyl (E)-3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)prop-2-enoate 162898250 Click to see 626.50 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(03)00238-3
[(2R,3S,4S,5S,6R)-6-[2,3-dihydroxy-5-(3,5,7-trihydroxy-4-oxochromen-2-yl)phenoxy]-3,4,5-trihydroxyoxan-2-yl]methyl (E)-3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)prop-2-enoate 163193399 Click to see C1=CC(=CC=C1C=CC(=O)OCC2C(C(C(C(O2)OC3=CC(=CC(=C3O)O)C4=C(C(=O)C5=C(C=C(C=C5O4)O)O)O)O)O)O)O 626.50 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(03)00238-3
[6-[2,3-Dihydroxy-5-(3,5,7-trihydroxy-4-oxochromen-2-yl)phenoxy]-3,4,5-trihydroxyoxan-2-yl]methyl 3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)prop-2-enoate 74978294 Click to see C1=CC(=CC=C1C=CC(=O)OCC2C(C(C(C(O2)OC3=CC(=CC(=C3O)O)C4=C(C(=O)C5=C(C=C(C=C5O4)O)O)O)O)O)O)O 626.50 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(03)00238-3
> Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavonoid glycosides / Flavonoid O-glycosides / Flavonoid-3-O-glycosides
5,7-Dihydroxy-3-(3,4,5-Trihydroxy-6-Methyloxan-2-Yl)Oxy-2-(3,4,5-Trihydroxyphenyl)Chromen-4-One 5352000 Click to see 464.40 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(03)00238-3
5,7-dihydroxy-3-[(2S,3S,4R,5R,6S)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-methyloxan-2-yl]oxy-2-(3,4,5-trihydroxyphenyl)chromen-4-one 129010103 Click to see CC1C(C(C(C(O1)OC2=C(OC3=CC(=CC(=C3C2=O)O)O)C4=CC(=C(C(=C4)O)O)O)O)O)O 464.40 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(03)00238-3
Myricitrin 5281673 Click to see 464.40 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(03)00238-3
> Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Tannins
.beta-Penta-O-galloyl-D-glucose 374874 Click to see C1=C(C=C(C(=C1O)O)O)C(=O)OCC2C(C(C(C(O2)OC(=O)C3=CC(=C(C(=C3)O)O)O)OC(=O)C4=CC(=C(C(=C4)O)O)O)OC(=O)C5=CC(=C(C(=C5)O)O)O)OC(=O)C6=CC(=C(C(=C6)O)O)O 940.70 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(03)00238-3
Penta-O-galloyl-beta-D-glucose 65238 Click to see 940.70 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(03)00238-3

Gallery Top

We don't have an image yet. Upload an image!

Contributors Top

No known contributors. Be the first!

Collections Top

In private collections 0
In public collections 0
You need to be authenticated in order to add this taxon to a personal collection.