Nymphaea mexicana
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Nymphaea mexicana | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scientific classification | ||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||
| Binomial name | ||||||||||||||
| Nymphaea mexicana Zucc. |
The aquatic plant Nymphaea mexicana is known by the common names yellow waterlily, Mexican waterlily and banana waterlily. It is perhaps best known as a noxious weed in wetlands of the southern half of the United States, particularly in California. It is native to the Gulf Coast but it can easily invade similar aquatic ecosystems when it is introduced. The plant is attractive and has been introduced to new habitats for ornamental purposes.
The plant has thick rhizomes and long, spongy creeping stolons which bear bunches of small yellow roots that resemble miniature bananas. The plant can grow from seedlings or send out new shoots from its stolons. The large, flat leaves are green with purple or brown patterning, and float on the surface of the water. The floating lotus flowers have yellow petals and pointed, starlike, greenish-yellow sepals. The flowers close at night. The plant flowers during the summer, and also during spring and fall in warmer areas. Seeds are contained in green berries which grow underwater. It grows in marshes and readily invades canals and other shallow waterways, sometimes becoming a nuisance.
The Canvasback duck feeds on the banana-like roots of the plant.
[edit] External links
 |
This plant article is a stub. Please help Wikipedia grow by expanding it. |
