General Species Description
- Yellow pond-lily is a perennial aquatic plant. Its hypogynous yellow flower floats at the waters' surface and radiates like a beacon amid the large green leaves. The long peduncles firmly tether the flower and leaves to the thick fleshy rhizome secured in the mucky floor of marshes, shorelines of open waters.
Leaves
- Frequently the large green frequently slime-coated leaves float on water's surface except during drought or drop in water level. Long peduncles attach the stiff cordate shield-like leaves to the rhizome. The blades ( 1 to 4 dm) have veins that double branch and repeat that design from mid to outer margin of leaf. .
Inflorescence/Flowers
- The bowl-shaped solitary flower contains a thick flat-top sub-sessile stigma that is surrounded by stamens with purple-stalks and yellow anthers. Encircling this are large yellow petals (7-12 cm), sometimes purple-tinged. The calyx consists of 4 smaller sepals (3.5 - 6 cm). The spiral arrangement of floral parts is primitive like pine cones (such as Ranunculaceae--the butercups or crowsfoot; Magnoliaceae--magnolias; Dilleniaceae--the dillenia family) rather than the more common concentric rings.
Fruits
- Spherical leathery fleshy green pod with opening at throat. The hypogynous carpels bob at the waters' surface.
Habitat
- Yellow pond-lily grows in freshwater marshes, lakes, shorelines of open waters and slow-moving streams. Associated flora include Juncus and Carex species.
Range
- Yellow pond-lily extends from southern Alaska, eastern and western sides of Cascade Mountains to California; also east to Alta, South Dakota and Colorado. Commonly found within lowlands to mountain habitat.
Similar Species
- White water lily (Nymphaea L. odorata) shows off a showy white flower that floats within its shield of green cordate leaves. The flower contains many petal-like stamens and 4 smaller green sepals.
Ecological Value
- Leaves shield amphibians, animals, aquatic insects; and offers habitat for algae growth. Waterfowl eat seeds (4 mm); deer, muskrats graze on leaves; beavers chew rhizomes.
Human Value
- Some Amerindians ground seeds into flour or roasted the seeds like popcorn. Rootstocks are potentially poisonous. Turner said her personal experience proved the rootstock to be extremely bitter and unpleasant even after prolonged boiled with several changes of water.
References
- Baumgardt, John Philip. How to Identify Flowering Plant Families. Timber Press. Portland, OR, 269 pp.
- Cook, S.S., ed. 1997. A Field Guide to the Common Wetland Plants of Western Washington & Northwest Oregon. Seattle Audubon Society and Washington Native Plant Society. Seattle Audubon Society, Seattle WA, 417pp.
- Hitchcock, Leo C; Cronquist, Arthur. Flora of the Pacific Northwest, University of Washington Press. Seattle, WA.1973. 730pp.
This page was created by: Gail Russell, August 1999
Return to Biodiversity of Oregon's Wetland Plants