Nymphaeaceae FAMILY

Nymphaea alba

Edibility

3/5

Medicinal

2/5

Safety & Hazards

One report suggests that the plant is poisonous but gives no further details[ 19 Title Poisonous Plants. Publication Author Stary. F. Publisher Hamlyn Year 1983 ISBN 0-600-35666-3 Description Not very comprehensive, but easy reading. ]. The plant contains the toxic alkaloids nupharine and nymphaeine, these substances have an effect on the nervous system[ 240 Title Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants (Including the Supplement). Publication Author Chopra. R. N., Nayar. S. L. and Chopra. I. C. Publisher Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi. Year 1986 ISBN - Description Very terse details of medicinal uses of plants with a wide range of references and details of research into the plants chemistry. Not for the casual reader. ].

Botanical Description

Nymphaea alba is a Perennial It is harvested from the wild for local use as a food and medicine

Habitat & Origin

Origintemperate

Native RangeMost of Europe, including Britain.

HabitatMarshes, ponds, slow moving streams, lakes and canals up to 1.2m deep[ 7 Title Encyclopaedia of Medicinal Plants. Publication Author Chiej. R. Publisher MacDonald Year 1984 ISBN 0-356-10541-5 Description Covers plants growing in Europe. Also gives other interesting information on the plants. Good photographs. , 9 Title Edible and Medicinal Plants. Publication Author Launert. E. Publisher Hamlyn Year 1981 ISBN 0-600-37216-2 Description Covers plants in Europe. a drawing of each plant, quite a bit of interesting information. , 17 Title Flora of the British Isles. Publication Author Clapham, Tutin and Warburg. Publisher Cambridge University Press Year 1962 ISBN - Description A very comprehensive flora, the standard reference book but it has no pictures. ].