Nymphaeaceae
(Water Lily Family)
Habit
-
rhizomatous, aquatic herbs without
vessels
Leaves
- large, mostly floating
Flowers
- long-peduncled, solitary
Perianth
- of many
whorls, outer segments
sepaloid and petals
intergrading with stamens
Stamens
-
laminar, spirally arranged, grading into petals
Carpels
- many,
distinct or
connate;
superior or
inferior,
placentation parietal
Fruit
- aggregate of
nuts, a
berry, or a fleshy
capsule
Diversity
- 5 genera / 50 species
Distribution
- cosmopolitan (in
"buffered" climate of pond)
Economics
- cultivated ornamentals, edible
rhizomes and
seeds; water lily (Nymphea, Nuphar).
Notes
-
Images
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