Nymphaea rubra belonging to family Mymphaceae is inherent to India, Thailand, and Nile delta. In Europe, it is cultivated as an aquarist plant. Leaves are called heterophyllie which refers to underwater surfaces that look different than those on water surfaces. They are acute, heart-shaped and petiole that grows nearly in the middle of the lamina. Leaves are first reddish than dark green and dentate at the leaf edge. Flowers are red and 15 cm in diameter. Flowers open at night and close in the morning. Fruits are brown green and are about 4 to 6 cm in diameter. Seeds are black, elliptic and about 1.8 mm long. Seeds are encircled by an arilus which includes air.
Plant description
Nymphaea rubra is a perennial herbaceous aquatic plant having pinkish and corm-shaped rhizomes rooted in sediment and forming slender stolons. Leaves are simple, 20 to 50 cm in diameter and subpeltate. Leaves (submerged) are sagittate or cordate with a reddish tint. Flowers are showy, bisexual, fragrant, hypogynous, polymerous measuring 15 cm across, and solitary on a dark red peduncle above water. Calyx is episepalous having four red oblongs to lanceolate and caduceus sepals. Corolla is elliptic to oblanceolate, 20-25 mm, and red to purple petals length is thrice longer than the breadth. The androecium is polyandrous and filaments are dark-red purple and petaloid. The ovary is globosely encased in a fleshy torus, syncarpous, multi-carpellate, and multi-focused. Fruit is a globose berry that encloses ellipsoid seeds.
Traditional uses
- The flower is an astringent and cardiac tonic, helpful for heart palpitations.
- Rhizomes are used as a cure for dyspepsia and dysentery.
- People of Assam use the roots for vomiting.
- Apply the powder of the dried root in an area with piles for 66 to 7 days.
- The mixture of crushed rhizome powder with honey is used for piles, bleeding nose and dysentery in Manipur.
- Apply the leaves paste to the body for fever and skin inflammation.
- Use the flowers as a treatment for cholera, diarrhea, hepatopathy, fever, and hyperdipisa.
- Root decoction is used for kidney pain, bronchial catarrh or as a gargle for sore throats.
- Use it in douche as a treatment for vaginal soreness and discharges.
- A poultice prepared with the mixture of slippery elm, flax and red water lily is used for treating abscesses and boils.
Culinary uses
Use roasted seeds as a substitute for coffee.
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