The Advantages of Water Lilies

Water lilies often get a bad rap as an invasive species that begin as a decorative ornament but quickly become a nuisance. However, water lilies offer many advantages for the pond that they inhabit as well as the aquaculturist who cultivates them. Guardians, not invaders, water lilies detoxify, nourish and protect any body of water they call home.

Improve Water Quality

Water lilies do several things to improve the quality of lakes and ponds. They provide shade, shelter and cooler water temperatures for any fish or invertebrates living in the water. But perhaps the most useful advantage of water lilies is their ability to filter and detoxify the water. In fact, water lilies thrive in water polluted with heavy metals. A study conducted at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem Faculty of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Quality Sciences in Rehovot has demonstrated that water lilies can absorb up to 16 percent of their weight in heavy metals.

Nutrition

Although no longer a common delicacy, water lilies are actually quite nutritious. The seeds of the yellow water lily (nuphar lutea) are high in starch and glucose, and they may be eaten toasted or ground into a flour as the Native Americans once did. The roots and leaves of the common yellow water lily (nuphar lutea, nuphar advena and nuphar polysepala) can be boiled and eaten as a nutritious green that is high in starches, tannins and lipids. The flowers can even be made into jam. The nutritional content of water lilies can also attract local wildlife to a pond. Many wild animals such as deer, beaver, ducks, porcupines and muskrat feed on the seeds, roots, leaves and flowers of the succulent water lily. Frogs and other animals also benefit from the scenic ecosystem that water lilies create. However, before consuming the leaves, seeds, roots or flowers of any water lily, be sure that you have accurately identified the type of water lily. While North American varieties of water lily are not generally poisonous, not all of them provide nutritional value or a palatable flavor. Furthermore, you should only consume water lilies growing in toxin-free water as any toxins absorbed by the water lilies may be present in some of their structures.

Medicinal Purposes

The common white water lily (nymphaea alba) contains alkaloids, oils and tannins that make it a good anti-inflammatory and mild sedative when consumed. Its roots can also be boiled in beer and used as a hair rinse for healthy, shiny locks. The seeds can make a flavorful alternative to coffee.