Probably, each of our compatriots has heard about water lilies. Some have even seen them in the wild. It is truly an unforgettable sight. Not flashy, but at the same time surprisingly refined, graceful flowers bloom on the water surface. And not everyone knows where water lilies grow, believing because of this that it is impossible to see this sophisticated plant in our country.
External description
Of course, the most prominent part is the flower. A water lily, depending on the variety, can have a diameter of 5 to 20 centimeters. It has almost no aroma, and thin, elongated petals are found in white, yellow, pink and other colors. The core is rich yellow, consists of many stamens. Moreover, in some species, the flower is located directly on the water, while in others it rises on the stem by 10-20 centimeters.
The leaves are deep green, rounded, with a deep notch on one side. The diameter ranges from 20 to 30 centimeters. However, they are green only on the outside. The inside is red-violet.
The rhizome grows strictly horizontally, notgoing too deep into the soil of the reservoir, receiving all the substances necessary for development from the upper layers of the bottom. Usually highly branched.
Habitat
Now let's figure out in which countries water lilies grow. This list is quite extensive. This unusual flower is found almost all over the world - from equatorial countries in the south to Scandinavia in the north.
In our country, the most common white water lily, the photo of which is given in the article. Less colorful and catchy than its southern relatives, it is still a real decoration of many reservoirs.
Where does the white water lily grow in Russia? It is distributed almost throughout the entire territory of our country. You can see it most often in the European part, but it also grows in Western Siberia, the North Caucasus, and the Urals, with the exception of the northernmost regions. The plant grows in slow flowing rivers, lakes and ponds. Rarely found in water bodies deeper than two meters.
Many readers may be interested in where the white water lily grows outside of Russia. The list of countries is not too long - first of all, it is Ukraine, Armenia and Azerbaijan. In other countries, it is practically not found in the wild.
Chemical composition
Most people regard water lilies solely as a beautiful plant. But it contains substances that make it quite a valuable plant. Of course, the most interesting is the rhizome. First of all, because of the large amount of nutrients. The amount of starch in it ranges from 20 to 50 percent. In addition, there is up to 20 percent sugar and up to 10 percent protein.
True, the highest concentration is achieved in the fall, when the plant is preparing for wintering, in order to survive until spring. When the water warms up enough, the rhizome sprouts, actively using the stored starch so that the leaves quickly rise to the surface and bloom, receiving enough sunlight.
Also, the rhizome contains quite a lot of tannins, thanks to which it does not rot in water for a long time, easily surviving until spring.
Economic use
It would be strange if people did not appreciate the beneficial properties of rhizomes. In many countries where the water lily grows in swamps or lakes, the locals use this valuable plant.
For example, it is often grown as a cultivated plant - from one hectare you can collect a huge amount of rhizomes - dried up to 2 tons, which is a very good indicator. The rhizomes are primarily edible. They can be fried or boiled. By drying, you can easily grind the roots, turning them into high-quality and nutritious flour.
For many years they have been used to dye fabrics brown and black. Finally, they serve as raw materials for the collection of Zdrenko - he was prescribed for cancer patients for a long time.
Seeds don't disappear either. Since they contain alkaloids and tannins, in somepeoples use them as a coffee substitute.
How to grow a water lily
Many summer residents and owners of private houses, appreciating the sophistication and beauty of the water lily, over time become eager to grow it at home. Indeed, what can emphasize their taste better than a small pond decorated with these delicate flowers? True, for this you need to know how water lilies grow in a pond - otherwise the idea is initially doomed to failure.
You can plant them at any warm time of the year - from the beginning of May to the end of September. For this, it is best to use rhizomes - they are sold in some specialized stores, but can also be carefully dug up in any forest pond.
Planting depends on how deep the pond is, where you plan to grow it. If the depth is small - 30-70 centimeters, then it will certainly freeze to the very bottom. In this case, it is best to plant the rhizome in a small plastic or metal container. It is filled with nutrient soil, and after planting, the soil is strengthened with large pebbles so that it is less eroded. After that, the container gently sinks to the bottom.
If your site has a full-fledged pond one and a half to two meters deep, fed by warm springs and not freezing even on the coldest winter days, then it would be better to plant the rhizome directly into the soil of the reservoir. If everything is done correctly, then in a few days the plant will strengthen and begin to grow actively until it reaches the surface of the reservoir.
The main thing is not to plant plants too tightly -it is desirable that half of the area of the reservoir is free. If planted too tightly, water lilies will not bloom, and it is precisely admiring the flowers that is the main goal of the gardener.
Wintering water lilies
When planting rhizomes in the soil of a deep reservoir, you should not worry. By autumn, the upper part of the plant will die, only to come to life again in the spring and continue the life cycle.
But if you have chosen a small reservoir, which will probably freeze to the bottom, then you will have to make sure that the root does not die in winter. Fortunately, you foresaw this - when most of the plant dies, you can safely pull the container out of the water along with the rhizome and take it to a cool place, for example, to a cellar or basement, where the temperature does not fall below zero, but at the same time does not rise so much to awaken the plant.
In the spring, when the water in the pond on the site warms up enough, you just need to lower the container to the bottom to admire the beautiful and sophisticated plant all summer.
Types of water lilies
Of course, it is simply impossible to list all types of water lilies existing in the world, for this one would have to write a multi-volume encyclopedia. In the wild, there are more than three dozen species. And the number of artificially bred varieties is even measured in hundreds. But it is quite possible to mention several varieties:
- The white water lily has already been described above - it is also Nymphaea alba.
- No less interesting is the snow-white water lily - Nymphaea Candida. It has larger petals thoughtheir number is slightly less, which makes it look less elegant and sophisticated.
- Dwarf water lily - Nymphaea pygmaea. It is the smallest of its kind. Her flowers rarely reach a diameter of 2.5 centimeters! But they are quite beautiful - they have a rich red color. Prefers shallow depth - usually less than half a meter.
- Nymphaea tuberosa, also known as tuberous water lily, grows up to one meter deep. The flowers are quite large, with wide, pure white petals. The leaves are not dark green, as in most species, but light, which looks very elegant in combination with a snow-white flower.
- But the fragrant water lily, she is Nymphaea odorata, a guest from North America. One of the few representatives of the species, which has a rich, pronounced aroma. The flowers are large - up to 15 centimeters. Petals numerous, with sharp tips. He also prefers not too much depth - 50-80 centimeters.
The water lily in mythology
Many peoples who are well acquainted with this amazing plant have many legends associated with water lilies. The Latin name - Nymphaea - the plant received from a water nymph. A beautiful girl fell in love with Hercules and suffered from love for him. When he said that he did not reciprocate, the unfortunate nymph could no longer be herself, and the gods mercifully turned her into a beautiful flower that pleases everyone who sees him.
In our country, as in most Slavic countries, water lilies are directly related tomermaids (not to be confused with sea maidens with tails). It is these flowers that the drowned girl prefers to use to decorate her hair.
Legends about water lilies are also told in Scandinavia. Here, many believe that each flower has its own companion - a tiny elf. It is born when the water lily blooms for the first time. Throughout the short Scandinavian summer, the tiny man lives in a flower that blooms at sunset and closes when the sun sets below the horizon. Well, with the advent of cold weather, the flower dies, the elf, alas, also dies in order to be reborn again in the spring.
Conclusion
This concludes our article. Now you know where water lilies grow in nature, as well as how to plant it on your own site in order to enjoy sophistication and beauty every day. And in general, the reader learned more about this amazing plant.
