# western yellow pond-lily (*Nuphar polysepala*) The western yellow pond-lily is a beautiful water plant with big, round leaves and bright yellow flowers. It grows in ponds and lakes, making the water look lovely and inviting. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Wetlands ![western yellow pond-lily](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Nuphar_polysepala_in_Yellowstone_National_Park.JPG&width=800) Photo: Brocken Inaglory, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Nuphar_polysepala_in_Yellowstone_National_Park.JPG) ## Appearance The western yellow pond-lily has large, waxy, heart-shaped leaves that float flat on the water. Its distinctive bright yellow, bowl-shaped flowers, often tinged with red at the base, emerge proudly above the water surface. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Nymphaeales - **Family:** Nymphaeaceae - **Genus:** Nuphar ## Interesting facts - Its buoyant seeds float like tiny boats, spreading new plants to distant watery homes! - Its large, leathery leaves offer perfect shady hiding spots for small fish and tadpoles! - Some flowers give off a slightly yeasty or fruity scent to attract helpful beetle pollinators! - The huge underwater roots can grow as thick as your arm, storing energy for years! ## Special abilities - **Underwater Lung:** western yellow pond-lily has special air channels in its stems that deliver oxygen deep underwater, helping it thrive in muddy lake bottoms. - **Flexible Anchor:** western yellow pond-lily has strong, flexible stems that allow its leaves and flowers to sway with water currents without breaking. - **Nutrient Vault:** western yellow pond-lily has huge, starchy underwater rhizomes that store vital energy and nutrients, helping it survive harsh winters. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 5-15 cm - **Spread:** 50-150 cm - **Flower Size:** 10-20 cm - **Bloom Season:** Late spring to late summer - **Edible:** Yes - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Eats:** [Muskrat](https://www.snappit.app/explore/muskrat) (*Ondatra zibethicus*) — Feeds on the plant's nutritious underwater rhizomes. - **Eats:** Mallard (*Anas platyrhynchos*) — Dabbles for its floating, starchy seeds. - **Shelter:** [Yellow Perch](https://www.snappit.app/explore/yellow-perch) (*Perca flavescens*) — Hides under its wide floating leaves from predators. ## Traits - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [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. - [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. - [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 western yellow pond-lily? 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 western yellow pond-lily? 5-15 cm ### How wide does western yellow pond-lily spread? 50-150 cm ### How big are the flowers on western yellow pond-lily? 10-20 cm ### When does western yellow pond-lily bloom? Late spring to late summer ### Is western yellow pond-lily edible? Yes ### Is western yellow pond-lily toxic? None ### What is western yellow pond-lily's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Seaquest State Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/seaquest-state-park) — Washington, US · State Park ## 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: [Western Yellow Pond-lily: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-yellow-pond-lily)