Nymphaeaceae

Nymphaeaceae, commonly known as the water lilies, is a family of aquatic flowering plants within the order Nymphaeales. The family includes several genera, such as Nymphaea, Nuphar, Euryale, and Victoria, with about 60 species in total. Nymphaeaceae is considered among the more primitive lineages of flowering plants, and its members illuminate early angiosperm evolution. They are found in freshwater habitats across tropical and temperate regions worldwide.

Plants are aquatic herbs that are typically rooted in the mud of ponds or lakes, with leaves and flowers that either float on the surface or rise above it. Leaves are usually large and rounded or heart-shaped, and many species have peltate leaves where the petiole attaches near the center. Flowers are solitary, large, and conspicuous, often with numerous petals or petaloid sepals and a pleasant scent. The ovary is positioned centrally in the flower, and the fruit is a spongy receptacle that develops underwater and contains numerous seeds.

Pollination is frequently carried out by beetles and other insects attracted to the flowers by scent and nectar. Flowering occurs in spring and summer, varying with climate, and plants are well adapted to still or slow-moving freshwater habitats. Nymphaeaceae species are widely used ornamentally in ponds and water gardens, prized for their beauty and shade-providing leaves. Some species carry cultural significance in various regions, while habitat loss and water quality degradation threaten certain populations.