UCONN UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT

Ecology & Evolutionary Biology

Plant Biodiversity Conservatory and Research Core

  • Collections
  • Teaching
  • Research
  • Outreach
  • Visiting
  • Staff
  • IPM Info
  • Support the Greenhouse

Accession Data:

Nymphaea nouchali var. caerulea (Savigny) Verdc.

  • subg. Brachyceras

  • Common Name: Blue Water Lily
  • Family: Nymphaeaceae Salisb.

  • Country of Origin: tropical to southern Africa

  • Description: Perennial, rounded floating leaves, showy blue flowers, mid to late summer.
  • Uses: Nutritional: Flower stalks considered an excellent source of iron and a fair source of calcium.

    Medicinal: Studies have shown value as an antioxidant, antidiabetic, antihepatotoxic, cholinergic, antimicrobial, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antihyperglycemic, antihypolipidemic.

    From Philippine Alternative Medicine

    • IMPORTANT NOTE: Plant Uses are for informational purposes only. EEB Greenhouses assume no responsibility for adverse effects from the use of any plants referred to on this site. Always seek advice from a professional before using any plant medicinally.
  • Culture: Grow in up to 1m of water.

Accession Data:

  • Accession # 199400126
  • Source: Chiltern
  • Accession Date: 07-25-1994
  • Bench: 6906 - Array 1, Tank 6
    • Currently: active - healthy
    • Qty: 1 confirmed on 05-06-2025

Classification:

  • Division: Magnoliophyta
  • Class: Magnoliopsida
  • SubClass: basal angiosperms
  • Order: Nymphaeales
  • SubOrder:
  • Family: Nymphaeaceae
  • SubFamily:
  • Tribe:
  • SubTribe:

Flowering Data:

This accession has been observed in bloom on:
YearJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
2025
2024
2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
2013
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008
2007
2006
2005
2004
2003

References (internal):

  • Medicinal Plants
  • Basal Angiosperms (paleodicots)
  • Aquatic Plants
  • Benthophyte
  • EEB 3271 - Systematic Botany
  • EEB 3203 - Developmental Plant Morphology
  • EEB Greenhouse Holdings native to: Egypt / Benin / Gambia, The / Guinea-Bissau / Guinea / Burundi / Congo / Rwanda / Zaire / Chad / Eritrea / Ethiopia / Sudan / Kenya / Tanzania / Uganda / Angola / Malawi / Mozambique / Zambia / Zimbabwe / Botswana / Cape Provinces / Namibia / KwaZulu-Natal / Free State / Swaziland / Northern Provinces / Comoros / Madagascar / Palestine / Sinai / Yemen

References (external):

  1. The Plant List (2013). Version 1.1. Last accessed on Tuesday, August 15, 2017.
  2. Nymphaea nouchali var. caerulea at Global Biodiversity Information Facility. Last accessed on Tuesday, August 15, 2017.
  3. Nymphaea nouchali var. caerulea at PlantzAfrica. Last accessed on Tuesday, August 15, 2017.

data regenerated on Tue, 06 May 2025 15:00:02 -0400 [bcm v4.0]

Images:

Nymphaea nouchali var. caerulea

Additional images for this accession:

Click on thumbnails to enlarge

Current Accessions in the Nymphaeaceae

  • Nymphaea nouchali var. caerulea
  • Nymphaea thermarum W/C
W/C = Wild Collected
= indicates flowering in past 14 days
= images available for this accession
= map available for this accession
= accession added within past 90 days
  • © University of Connecticut
  • Disclaimers, Privacy & Copyright