Nuphar

plant genus

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Last updated

July 1, 2026

Quick Summary

Nuphar is a genus of water lilies belonging to the family Nymphaeaceae. These plants are characterized by their showy, typically yellow sepals and small petals that resemble stamens or scales. They also have leaves with a deep sinus and a cylindrical, creeping rootstock.1

Commonly known as spatterdock or cow lily, Nuphar species are found throughout the Northern Hemisphere. The genus includes about ten species, such as Nuphar advena, native to eastern North America, which features submerged, translucent leaves and leathery floating leaves. The term "nenúphar" is also used to refer to a water lily, particularly the Egyptian lotus.23

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water lily
Major genera and species
The genus Nuphar, with about 10 species distributed throughout the Northern Hemisphere, includes the common yellow water lily, also called cow lily or spatterdock (Nuphar advena), of eastern North America. The yellow water lily has submerged leaves that are thin and translucent and leathery floating leaves.
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The genus Nuphar, with about 10 species distributed throughout the Northern Hemisphere, includes the common yellow water lily, also called cow lily or spatterdock (Nuphar advena), of eastern North America. The yellow water lily has submerged leaves that are thin and translucent and leathery floating leaves.
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