Yellow water lily
Nuphar lutea
Yellow water lily
Other Common names: spatterdock, cow lily, brandybottle
Synonyms
Nuphar luteum, Nymphaea lutea
Description
Yellow water lily is a yellow-flowered water lily growing from large far-spreading spongy rhizomes, up to 10 cm thick. It has thick oval-shaped waxy floating leaves and thin lettuce-like submerged leaves. The flower is smaller than other water lilies, yellow, six-petalled and 6 cm across. It is very similar to a large buttercup flower. It has an alcoholic smell, and when fertilised produces a green flask-shaped fruit.
Impact
It forms dense mats of floating leaves which clog waterways, displacing other plants and obstructing recreational water users.
What to do
Contact your regional council to determine the status of this species and responsibility for control and/or advice on control.
Page last updated: 24 October 2008