# spatterdock (*Nuphar advena*) Spatterdock is a lovely water plant with big, round leaves that float on the surface of ponds and lakes. It has bright yellow flowers that look like little cups and attract many insects. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 6 - **Habitat:** Wetlands - **Also known as:** Yellow Water Lily ![spatterdock](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/American_Spatterdock.jpg&width=800) Photo: Claire Houck, CC BY-SA 2.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:American_Spatterdock.jpg) ## Appearance The spatterdock is an aquatic plant featuring large, leathery, heart-shaped leaves that often float or stand above the water. Its bright yellow, cup-shaped flowers typically emerge on thick stalks, contrasting with its deep green foliage. It looks distinctly sturdy and lush in its watery home. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Nymphaeales - **Family:** Nymphaeaceae - **Genus:** Nuphar ## Interesting facts - Its massive underwater rhizomes can grow as thick as a human arm! - Native Americans once used spatterdock roots to make a soothing tea for various ailments. - Spatterdock flowers smell like fermenting apples, which attracts buzzing pollinator insects. - The plant's leaves provide important shade, keeping the water cool for fish and other creatures. ## Special abilities - **Underwater Oxygen Delivery:** Spatterdock has special air canals in its stems and leaves that carry oxygen from the air down to its roots, helping it breathe underwater. - **Anchor Root System:** Spatterdock uses strong, thick rhizomes to anchor itself firmly in the mucky bottom, preventing it from floating away in currents or wind. - **Water Repellent Leaves:** Spatterdock has waxy leaves that shed water easily, helping them stay dry and prevent clogging of pores for photosynthesis. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 10-55 cm - **Spread:** 50-200 cm - **Flower Size:** 4-7 cm - **Bloom Season:** Late spring to early fall - **Edible:** Yes - **Toxicity:** Mild - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Eats:** [Muskrat](https://www.snappit.app/explore/muskrat) (*Ondatra zibethicus*) — consumes its starchy rhizomes and leaves - **Eats:** Mallard (*Anas platyrhynchos*) — feeds on the nutrient-rich seeds and fruits - **Shelter:** [Largemouth bass](https://www.snappit.app/explore/largemouth-bass) (*Micropterus salmoides*) — finds protection and shade among its broad leaves ## Traits - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Shade Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/shade-tolerant): Shade tolerant plants are adapted to grow and thrive in areas with low light levels, requiring less direct sunlight. - [Summer Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/summer-blooming): Summer blooming plants produce their flowers during the summer season, often providing vibrant color when many other plants have finished. - [Broadleaf Tree](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/broadleaf-tree): Broadleaf trees are angiosperms characterized by flat, wide leaves that are typically shed annually in temperate climates. - [Edible](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/edible): Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Wetland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wetland): This habitat trait identifies species found in wetlands, which are areas of land saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally, including marshes, swamps, and bogs. - [Freshwater](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/freshwater): Freshwater habitats include non-saline aquatic environments such as rivers, lakes, ponds, and wetlands, vital for numerous species. - [Keystone Species](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/keystone-species): Describes a species whose presence and role have a disproportionately large effect on its environment. - [Aquatic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aquatic): Aquatic habitats encompass environments where organisms live predominantly in water, including oceans, rivers, lakes, and wetlands. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always stay close to an adult when exploring ponds and lakes. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify spatterdock? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is spatterdock? 10-55 cm ### How wide does spatterdock spread? 50-200 cm ### How big are the flowers on spatterdock? 4-7 cm ### When does spatterdock bloom? Late spring to early fall ### Is spatterdock edible? Yes ### Is spatterdock toxic? Mild ### What is spatterdock's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Brooklyn Botanic Garden](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/brooklyn-botanic-garden) — New York, US · Botanical Garden - [Cedarville State Forest](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/cedarville-state-forest) — Maryland, US · Forest - [Clinton Hill Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/clinton-hill-historic-district) — New York, US · Historic District - [Colonial Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/colonial-park) — New Jersey, US · Park - [Pennyrile State Forest](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/pennyrile-state-forest) — Kentucky, US · Forest - [Silver Springs](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/silver-springs) — Florida, US · Zoo [View all places to see spatterdock](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/spatterdock) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Spatterdock: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/spatterdock)