White water lily - the queen of water

Even in Ancient Egypt and Greece, the white water-lily was not inferior to the popularity of another beautiful flower - lotus.

The name "White Water Lily" came from the Latin word "Nymphea", and the Latin name came from the Greek word "Nymph". According to ancient Greek legends, the water lily was once a white nymph, which later perished from unrequited love for Hercules. Because of the indifference of Hercules, the nymph turned into a beautiful flower.

Then the water-lily was called "the child of the sun", because of the opening of her elegant flower in the early hours. The flower of the water lily was closing after sunset.

general description

The white water lily belongs to the family of the pettiflorous. This family includes more than 50 plant species. The water-lily is an aquatic and perennial plant, with a height of 1.5 to 2 meters.

The flowers of the white water lily are found in the waters of Europe, on the territory of Russia, in Eastern and Western Siberia, the Transcaucasus and Central Asia. It should be noted that this plant is not only wild, but also grown as ornamental in garden lakes, ponds and other water bodies.

Numerous floating leaves of the water lilies have a round shape. The diameter of the leaves is from 15 to 25 centimeters. The color of the leaves can vary, depending on the age of the plant. In the young stage, the leaves are painted red, and the more mature leaves get an interesting coloring: dark green on top, and red-purple bottom. The center of gravity of the leaves is the place of attachment to the leaves of the petiole. The flowers of the white water lily are large, solitary. A cup of a flower consists of 3-4 petals, but sometimes there are 5 petals. Flowers of water-lilies have a tender and faint aroma

Water-lily is white: habitat.

This beautiful plant grows in standing and unhurried flowing waters of rivers, lakes, ponds. With a lowered level of water in the reservoirs, the flower will continue to bear fruit and blossom.

Unusual properties of water lily white.

The roots of the white water lily are rich in starch, protein, sugar, tannic, resinous and bitter substances, and essential oils and substance alkaloid, which has a psychoactive effect, that is, affecting the nervous system of a person. 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 system of vital activity of the flower is located, which represents the airway channels. These channels are visible to people even with poor eyesight, as 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 colors and stems, you can find essential oils, and a glycoside substance that has a hypnotic and analgesic property.

In addition, many people use flowers and other parts of the water lily when making magic broths, for example, a love potion.

But remember that you should not disrupt the water lily itself, according to popular beliefs, water spirits can spoil the life of the person who tore it. Also do not buy flowers of the plant, in addition to their own troubles, you can go to the trouble of the person from whom you bought a water lily.

Picking a water lily white.

The time to collect the water lily should be chosen in accordance with the part of the plant that you need.

Rhizomes are harvested from July to September. They are extracted from the bottom by means of special bumps. After collection, the roots are cleaned, washed and left in a ventilated room.

Flowers are harvested during the flowering period, namely from the beginning of June to August. If you need leaves, then collect them from 7am to 16pm, if buds, then at 6.30am before the flowering of the flower.

Leaves are collected from early March and until October.

The fruits and seeds of the water lily must be collected during the flowering period of the plant. Consider that each flower blooms for about four days. Seeds collect from the surface of the water, where they float in small "capsules". And the fruits are under water. After collecting the seeds and fruits, they need to be dried.

Remember that the white water lily is listed in the Red Book, so collect the flower in limited quantities. Today there are many different literature where there are interesting information about the flower water lily white. A report on this flower can be done without much difficulty by buying the necessary literature.