Water lily
Nymphaea spp. [Nymphaeaceae]
Suiren (スイレン, 睡蓮)
Lifeform: perennial forb
Habitat: halophyte (ponds, lakes, shallow streams, etc.)
A lot of cultivars (varieties)
Classification based on gardening
Temperate Nymphaea: cold-tolerant
Tropical Nymphaea
Parents of hybrids (more species)
N. alba L. (European white water lily): Europe - north Africa
N. caerulea Sav. (Egyptian blue water lily): north Africa
N. capensis Thunb. (cape blue water lily ): south Africa
N. gigantea Hook. (Australian water lily): Australia
N. lotus L. (Egyptian white water lily): north Africa
N. mexicana Zucc. (yellow water lily): central America
N. nouchali Burn fil.: India
N. odorata Ait. (fragrant water lily): central/north America
N. stellata Willd. (blue star water lily): southeast Asia
Nymphaea cv. in Hokkaido
[Left] Nymphaea sp. (clutivar) on the artificial pond (nicknamed Ohno Pond) near the Faculty of Engeneer in the campus of Hokkaido University in 1985. [Right] at Kabuto Swamp in Sarobetsu on October 13 2010.