water lily

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Animals & Nature

water lily

plant family

Also known as: Nymphaeaceae

Written and fact-checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica

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water lilies in bloom

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Category: Animals & Nature

Related Topics:: Nuphar; Victoria; Nymphaea; European white water lily; Santa Cruz water lily

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water lily, (family Nymphaeaceae), family of about 60 species in 4 genera of freshwater flowering plants (order Nymphaeales) native to the temperate and tropical parts of the world. Water lilies provide food for fish and wildlife but sometimes cause drainage problems because of their rapid growth. Many varieties have been developed for ornamental use in garden pools and conservatories. Closely related genera, of the family Cobombaceae, are the water shields and the fanworts. Most species of water lilies have rounded and variously notched waxy-coated leaves on long stalks that contain many air spaces and float in quiet freshwater habitats. The ...(100 of 619 words)

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