The Wildebeest's guide to South Africa
Blue Waterlily
Afrikaans name: Blouwaterlelie
Photo © Steven Herbert
Nymphaea nouchali
The Blue Waterlily is an attractive plant that is found extensively through Africa.
Flowers are produced all year round but often they close around the middle of the day, only to re-open the next day. The flowers attract numerous Honey Bees. Normally the flowers are blue but they can also be pink, white or mauve.
The leaves are large (up to 40cm across), notched and oval shaped. They often serve as a place for insects to rest. Tadpoles also rest on them if they are partially covered with water.
Apparently Hippos eat the tubers of the Blue Waterlily should they become exposed with the water level dropping.
References and further reading
The Gardener - 2012/11 - Author: - Published: 2012 - Page: 10Sasol First Field Guide to Wild Flowers of Southern Africa - Author: John Manning - Published: 1999 - Page: 51
Game Ranger in your Backpack - Author: Megan Emmett and Sean Pattrick - Published: 2013 - Page: 327
Illustrated Guide to the Wildflowers of Northern South Africa - Author: Gerrit Germishuizen & Brenda Clarke - Published: 2003 - Page: 147
Sasol First Field Guide to Wild Flowers of Southern Africa - Author: John Manning - Published: 1999 - Page: 4
Freshwater Life - Author: C. Griffiths, J. Day & M. Picker - Published: 2015 - Page: 304
Field Guide to Wild Flowers of South Africa - Author: John Manning - Published: 2009 - Page: 46
A Visitors Guide to Kirstenbosch - Author: Colin Paterson-Jones - Published: 0 - Page: 22
A Field Guide to Wild Flowers in KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Region - Author: Elsa Pooley - Published: 2005 - Page: 460