Scientific name: Nuphar pumilum
Common names: Huang Jinlian, Ping Penglian
Family and genus: Nymphaeaceae, a flowering aquatic plant.
This genus comprises approximately 25 species globally, with around 45 species found in China.
Description:
Nuphar pumilum is a perennial, floating-leaved aquatic herb. It features thick, sprawling rhizomes that grow horizontally. The leaves are large, floating, and leathery, typically round or oval in shape, measuring 8 to 17 cm in length. They have a heart-shaped base and are smooth, shiny, and green. The upper surface has a spine and soft hairs, while the veins are fine and forked multiple times. The petioles are cylindrical, and the submerged leaves are thin and soft.
Flowers are solitary, emerging above the water on long, cylindrical stalks. The buds are spherical and green. There are five obovate sepals, which resemble petals and are yellow in color. Petals number between 10 to 20, narrow and wedge-shaped. The stamens are numerous, arranged within the ovary base, and are often shed after flowering. There are 12 to 15 carpels that form an upper ovary, each with a distinct stigma, giving the pistil a radial disk appearance. The fruit is an oval berry, about 3 cm long, with persistent bracts and irregular dehiscence. Seeds are round, yellow-brown, and glossy. Flowering occurs from May to July, with fruits maturing from July to September.
In Guizhou, the variety known as Ping Penglian is small in size, with a compact growth habit. Another variety, O. chinensis, has larger flowers, up to 5-6 cm in diameter, with a stalk extending about 20 cm above the water. It is highly ornamental and widely used in garden designs.
The Eurasian variety has thick, leathery, oval leaves, while the Taiwan variety features oblong or oval leaves.
Distribution:
Nuphar pumilum is native to provinces such as Guangdong, Fujian, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Jiangxi, Sichuan, Jilin, Heilongjiang, and Xinjiang in China. It also grows in Japan, Russia, Siberia, and parts of Europe. The Guizhou variety is found only in Guizhou, while the Chinese phlebodus variety is distributed in Jiangxi, Hunan, Guizhou, and Zhejiang. The Eurasian type is present in Xinjiang, Guizhou, and Europe. The Taiwan variety is endemic to Taiwan.
Habitat:
This plant thrives in warm, moist, and sunny environments. It adapts well to various soils, though slightly clayey and fertile soil is preferred. It grows best in water depths ranging from 30 to 60 cm, with a maximum depth of 1 meter. The ideal temperature range for growth is 15–32°C, and it stops growing when temperatures fall below 12°C. It is cold-tolerant and can survive winter in open ponds south of the Yangtze River without protection. In northern regions, it requires winter protection, with dormancy temperatures maintained between 0–5°C.
Reproduction:
Nuphar pumilum primarily reproduces asexually through rhizome division, although sexual reproduction via seeds also occurs.
Uses:
This plant is valued for its ornamental beauty, both for its flowers and foliage. It is commonly used in pond landscaping, often paired with water lilies, lotus, reeds, cattails, and yellow iris to create vibrant aquatic scenes. It can also be planted near homes, buildings, rockeries, or in sunny areas. Its roots help purify water. In early years, the seeds were once used for making glutinous rice. The rhizomes have medicinal properties, aiding digestion, stopping bleeding, and helping with fatigue and nervous exhaustion.
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