Even in Ancient Egypt and Greece, a white water lily was not inferior to popularity of another beautiful flower - a lotus.
The name "White Water Lily" comes from the Latin word "Nymphea", and the Latin name comes from the Greek word "Nymph". According to ancient Greek legends, the water lily was once a white nymph who later died from an unrequited love for Hercules. Due to the indifference of Hercules, the nymph turned into a beautiful flower.
Then the water lily was called the "child of the sun", due to the disclosure of its elegant flower in the early hours. The waterlily flower was closing after sunset.
general description
The white water lily belongs to the Water Lily family. This family includes more than 50 species of plants. The water lily is an aquatic and perennial plant with a height of 1.5 to two meters.
White water lily flowers are found in water bodies of Europe, in Russia, in Eastern and Western Siberia, Transcaucasia and Central Asia. It is worth noting that this plant is not only wild-growing, but also grown as ornamental in garden lakes, ponds and other bodies of water.
Numerous floating leaves of the water lily are round. The diameter of the leaves is from 15 to 25 centimeters. The color of the leaves may vary, depending on the age of the plant. In the young stage, the leaves are colored red, and more mature leaves acquire an interesting color: dark green on top, and red-violet on the bottom. The center of gravity of the leaves is the place of attachment to the leaves of the petiole. The flowers of a white water lily are large, single. A flower cup consists of 3-4 petals, but sometimes there are 5 petals. Water lily flowers have a delicate and faint aroma
White water lily: habitat.
This beautiful plant grows in the stagnant and leisurely flowing waters of rivers, lakes, ponds. With a reduced level of water in the ponds, the flower will continue to bear fruit and bloom.
Unusual properties of white water lilies.
The roots of a white water lily are rich in starch, protein, sugar, tannins, tarry and bitter substances, and essential oils and an alkaloid substance that has a psychoactive effect, that is, affects the human nervous system. The rhizome itself has a dark brown color, and is covered with the remains of leaves and petioles. It is in the rhizome that the vital system of the flower, which is the airways, is located. These channels are accessible for people with visual impairment, since the system is necessary for the plant not only to provide respiratory functions, but also to keep the water lily on the surface of the water.
Plant seeds contain starch, tannins, essential oils and fatty acids. In flowers and stems, you can find essential oils, and the substance is a glycoside, which has hypnotic and analgesic properties.
In addition, many use flowers and other parts of the water lily in the manufacture of magical decoctions, such as love potions.
But remember that you should not tear the water lily yourself, according to popular beliefs, water spirits can ruin the life of a person who ripped it off. Also, do not buy the flowers of the plant, in addition to your own troubles, the troubles of the person from whom you bought a water lily can go to you.
Collection of white water lilies.
The time for collecting water lilies must be chosen in accordance with the part of the plant that you need.
Rhizomes are harvested from July to September. They get them from the bottom using special mounds. After harvesting, the roots are cleaned, washed and left in a ventilated area.
Flowers are harvested during the flowering period, namely from early June to August. If you need leaves, then pick them from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., if buds, then at 6.30 a.m. before the flower begins to bloom.
Leaves are collected from early March to October.
The fruits and seeds of the water lily must be collected during the flowering period of the plant. Keep in mind that each flower blooms for about four days. Collect seeds from the surface of the water, where they float in small "capsules". And the fruits are under water. After collecting seeds and fruits, it is necessary to dry them.
Remember that the white water lily is listed in the Red Book, so collect the flower in limited quantities. Today there is a lot of different literature where there is interesting information about the flower of a white water lily. A report on this flower can be completed without much difficulty by purchasing the necessary literature.