Nuphar lutea
Common name
yellow water lily, brandy botte
Family
Nymphaeaceae
Flora category
Vascular – Exotic
Structural class
Herbs - Dicotyledons other than Composites
Conservation status
Not applicable
Brief description
Perennial floating leaved plants with shiny, ‘lily’ shaped leaves and bright golden yellow flowers that are held above the water surface.
Distribution
Central Hawke’s Bay and South Canterbury, targeted for eradication.
Habitat
Still and slow flowing water bodies.
Wetland plant indicator status rating
Information derived from the revised national wetland plant list prepared to assist councils in delineating and monitoring wetlands (Clarkson et al., 2021 Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research Contract Report LC3975 for Hawke’s Bay Regional Council). The national plant list categorises plants by the extent to which they are found in wetlands and not ‘drylands’. The indicator status ratings are OBL (obligate wetland), FACW (facultative wetland), FAC (facultative), FACU (facultative upland), and UPL (obligate upland). If you have suggestions for the Wetland Indicator Status Rating, please contact: [Enable JavaScript to view protected content]
OBL: Obligate Wetland
Almost always is a hydrophyte, rarely in uplands (non-wetlands).
Detailed description
Stout spongy, tuberous rhizome that is up to 10 cm across. The floating leaf is ovate, with entire leaf margins, a deep sinus, and up to 30 cm long. The submerged leaf is very thin and lettuce-like. The flowers are golden yellow, cup shaped and have 5 to 6 sepals (that are petal like) while the petals are inconspicuous. The flower is up to 6 cm across with a strong alcoholic aroma. The flower is held above the water surface by a stout stalk. Fruit flask-shaped, green 2-3 cm long.
Similar taxa
Nymphaea spp., water poppy (Hydrocleys nymphoides), marshwort (Nymphoides geminata), and fringed water lily (Nymphoides peltata). Nymphaea species have a much rounder leaf and lack the thick spongy rhizomes that are so distinctive in yellow water lily. Water poppy, marshwort, and fringed water lily have much smaller floating leaves (up to 10 cm across) than the large leaves of yellow water lily, and also lack the distinctive rhizome.
Flowering
Spring to summer.
Flower colours
Yellow
Fruiting
Summer-autumn
Life cycle
Rhizome fragments and seed.
Year naturalised
1975
Origin
Native to Eurasia and northern Africa
Reason for introduction
Ornamental pond plant
Control techniques
Can be controlled manually, mechanically or herbicidally depending on situation.
National Pest Plant Accord species
This plant is listed in the 2020 National Pest Plant Accord. The National Pest Plant Accord (NPPA) is an agreement to prevent the sale and/or distribution of specified pest plants where either formal or casual horticultural trade is the most significant way of spreading the plant in New Zealand. For up to date information and an electronic copy of the 2020 Pest Plant Accord manual (including plant information and images) visit the MPI website.
Attribution
Factsheet prepared by Paul Champion and Deborah Hofstra (NIWA).
References and further reading
Champion et al (2012). Freshwater Pests of New Zealand. NIWA publication. http://www.niwa.co.nz/freshwater-and-estuaries/management-tools/identification-guides-and-fact-sheets/freshwater-pest-species.
Johnson PN, Brooke PA (1989). Wetland plants in New Zealand. DSIR Field Guide, DSIR Publishing, Wellington. 319pp.
DiTomaso JM, EA Healy (2003). Aquatic and riparian weeds of the west. University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources Publication 3421, 462pp.