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Yellow Water Lily (Mexican Water Lily)

Nymphaea mexicana

Mexican Water Lily Locations in North America
Mexican Water Lily Locations in Southeast US
mexican water lily flower

mexican water lily drawing
close up yellow water lily

group of mexican water lilies

What is Yellow Water Lily (Mexican Water Lily)?

Physical Characteristics

Leaves:

  • Oval-shaped
  • Up to 9 inches wide
  • Fleshy
  • Bright-green on top
  • Purple or deep-red on bottom

Flowers:

  • 2.36-3.94 inches wide
  • Sepals are sword-shaped
  • Usually has about 25 petals
  • Bright yellow in color
  • Elliptical or sword-shaped

Fruit:

  • Berry
  • Egg-shaped
  • 0.78-1 inches long

Seeds:

  • 0.16-0.2 inches in diameter

Roots:

  • Looks like they’re covered in warts

Where Does it Grow?

Yellow water lily can be found in lakes, ponds, and slow streams.

Pros and Cons of Yellow Water Lily

Deer occasionally consume the leaves of yellow water lilies; while ducks consume the seeds and roots, as do muskrats, nutria, and other rodents. Submerged portions of all aquatic plants provide habitats for many micro and macro invertebrates. These invertebrates in turn are used as food by fish and other wildlife species (e.g. amphibians, reptiles, ducks, etc.) After aquatic plants die, their decomposition by bacteria and fungi provides food (called “detritus”) for many aquatic invertebrates.

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Photo Credits: The majority of the aquatic plant line drawings are the copyright of the University of Florida Center for Aquatic Plants (Gainsville). They are used with permission.

Aquatic plant photographs were provided by David Bayne, Jim Davis, Kelly Duffie, Billy Higginbotham, Michael Masser, John Clayton, Chetta Owens, Diane Smith, Joe Snow, Don Steinbach, Bridget Robinson Lassiter and Peter Woods.

You may use these photos, so long as you give credit to AquaPlant.

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