The White Waterlily, Nymphaea alba, is the only native waterlily in Britain, found wild in calm open water such as ponds and slow-moving waterways.
This hardy aquatic perennial has its roots firmly anchored in the mud, while its plain green leaves float like a mat on the surface. Through this mat emerge the flower-stalks, each bearing a single cup-shaped bud that opens into a many-petalled starry flower. Given enough space, they can spread up to 3 m / 10ft, and produce blooms as large as 20cm / 8” across, with 25 or more petals: the largest native flower in the UK.
Although the illustrated specimen in the Bath House & Physic Garden pond is small in comparison, it is nonetheless equally effective as cover for water creatures including frogs, dragonfly larvae and other invertebrates. This shade also helps to maintain good water quality as it prevents algae spreading to a damaging level. The pure white flowers, borne just above the leaves from June onwards, have yellow centres and are slightly fragrant as they open, attracting pollinators.
Medicinal Uses
Used in traditional herbal medicine from ancient times, the plant has a wide range of applications, usually derived from the flower or root. Preparations from the roots were (and are) used to soothe skin complaints such as sunburn, boils and abscesses. Related to the Yellow Waterlily, it has similar properties and both have been used in astringents prescribed for diarrhoea, such as arises from dysentery or IBS. They are also both mucilaginous, useful in preparations for soothing sore throats and cough.
Among other ailments for which it has been prescribed are lung disease, kidney and bladder problems, and as a tonic for the heart. Strangely, it has also been mentioned as both aphrodisiac and anaphrodisiac…
Modern chemical analysis shows that the plant is rich in tannic acid, alkaloids, sterols, flavonoids, glycosides and other compounds. These contribute to its usefulness in so many aspects of healing: it is antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, astringent, diuretic, emollient and sedative.
Laboratory studies also suggest that its effect upon the nervous system offers potential in the treatment of anxiety, insomnia and similar conditions.
Myth and Magic
The Botanical Latin name for the waterlily, Nymphaea, is derived from the Greek Νύμφη, Nymph. The nymphs were a sort of minor demigod in Greek mythology, not immortal but very long-lived, and friendly towards humans. They were usually associated with the natural world: forests, caves, mountains, rivers and the sea. They were visualised as beautiful, graceful women; hence the beauty and pure colour of the waterlily, and its habitat, suggested its botanical name.
There is a theory that you can’t buy a true white waterlily for your garden pond. In the 19th century there was a huge interest in botanical science, and Victorians were avid collectors of plants from around the world. Plant breeders competed to develop new varieties, and our native waterlilies were hybridised with other waterlilies introduced by the globe-trotting plant hunters. Any new plant that didn’t come up to expectations would be rejected, and it’s possible that no ‘pure’ Nymphaea alba were kept for sale.
The Impressionist painter Claude Monet will always be associated with this species, having spent 30 years creating 250 huge studies of the waterlilies in his water garden at Giverny. He was interested in horticulture, and his waterlilies were imported from South America and Egypt (so our native plant is not represented in a single one of his paintings). It may not be so widely known that Monet’s neighbours, and the local council, objected to his water garden plans, being convinced these exotic specimens would poison the local water supply, but Monet ignored them and the waterlilies can still be seen at Giverny to this day.
Other Uses
One source states that during WWI, when supplies of conventional opiate anaesthetics were limited, the “potent alcoholic extract” of Nymphaea alba was utilised to great effect. However, I have not so far been able to find any other mention of, let alone substantiating evidence for, this claim. Please get in touch if you know otherwise…
Acknowledgements Thanks to the following for much of this information
https://wetland-plants.co.uk
https://devonpondplants.co.uk
https://wildlifetrusts.org
https://worldofwater.com
https://ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3062121/
https://elmaskincare.com
https://monetpaintings.org
