Swamp lily

Marsh lily belongs to the Waterlily family, which includes more than 50 species with a strong and powerful root system. It is very often confused with a pod. Marsh lily is one of the first flowering individuals. It is ranked as one of the most essential links in evolution.

This amazing plant will be discussed in the article.

Marsh lily: interesting facts

Marsh lily sits between the gymnosperms and angiosperms.

The plant is classified as amazing and unlike not one another in its beauty, it is listed in the Red Book.

Any gardener is able to be mesmerized by the beauty of such beautiful plants. The water lily is believed to have been around for over 4,000 years. The pharaohs of Egypt, who decorated their luxurious gardens with them, especially appreciated the extraordinary beauty and grace.

Water lilies were very often used in the preparation of decoctions by the ancient Slavs, it was believed that this plant could bewitch a loved one. If you take a flower with you on the road, then it will save you from anything bad.

There is such an ancient legend that once Hercules rejected a nymph, and for this the Gods turned her into this unusually beautiful plant. Therefore, the flower has a Latin name - white nymph.

Also known in the art of art is the famous work created in 1899 by Claude Monet "White Water Lilies". It shows all the beauty of mother nature that is around us.

Marsh lily has synoptic properties. The people have many signs associated with weather conditions.

There is such a feature that if the flower opens in the early morning, then the weather will be good in the afternoon. But if it opened only at 9 o'clock, then it may rain. If the petals do not appear at all, the weather will be very bad.

Detailed characteristics of swamp lily

Marsh lily is a perennial plant with large petals and no stem. Belong to the Kuvshinkov family. The root system resembles a "spider". The leaves are in close contact with each other, have a heart-shaped shape. The leg of the plant is elongated, the flowers are white in color.

The water lily moves along the water surface and emits a pleasant aroma. The bowl of the plant is green and has four leaves. A large number of stamens, the pistil has a radiant stigma. The fruits resemble small green balls that ripen under water. The flowering period occurs in the first 2 summer months.

The foliage, which is located on water and under water, differs significantly from each other. The underwater leaves are wide, twisted into caps, in which the buds of the plant are located. After that, leaves develop from them, which are above the water surface.

Emerging foliage appears in summer and comes up, having the shape of tubes, located on elongated cuttings. The leaf blades of winter-hardy water lilies are on the water, while in tropical ones they are slightly located above the water surface.

The petioles of the plant are strong and strong. Because of this, the plant can easily float on the water surface. When the water level is low, the marsh lily floats to the shore. And as a result, her petioles grow small and thick.The leaf plate is on the earth's surface, the edges of the plant are bent upward.

• All plant particles have air ducts, which saturate the lily with oxygen and help it stay on the water.
• There are also sclereids in the tubules that protect the plant from snail damage, as well as from accidental environmental influences.
• Water lilies are pollinated by beetles, which penetrate the flower, eating pollen, but part of it remains on their paws. Then they endure it themselves without realizing it.
• It happens that bugs stay overnight in the bowls of plants, which after 5 pm are submerged under water.
• The rhizome of the lily must be prepared in early September, and the foliage and flowers in the summer, in order to use them for medicinal purposes.
• For example, the flowers of the plant have antipyretic, relaxing and analgesic effects.

Marsh lily flower. Different plant names and germination areas

Very often, the water lily is used for medical purposes. The people most often call it: big lapushnik, water poppy, marsh lily, aquarius and so on.

The plant is often found in: Belarus, Ukraine, in the south of Siberia, in the Urals, in the north of the Caucasus. It lives in ponds, river bays and lakes.

The water lily was listed in the Red Book. It is very rarely found in natural conditions, which are getting worse and worse every year.

The plant will grow beautiful and healthy if it receives enough sun. Swamp lily grows well in temperate water and, on the contrary, does not perceive waterfalls and fountains well.

Each varietal feature grows in a specific area of ​​the area. There are times when a plant can spread over a long distance.

It is necessary to estimate the size of the water surface where the plant will be located so that it covers no more than 40% of the total area.

The swamp lily must be planted in a special container, which is then immersed in water to the desired depth. If the plant is small, then it can be lowered by about 10 cm. Therefore, it can be planted in small bodies of water. Water lilies that are actively growing are best planted in a deep reservoir, since the plant will go under water by about 1.5 meters.

What does a swamp lily look like, its varietal varieties

Marsh lily has a large abundance of species that grow in a variety of climates.

Some of the most common types are:

• Pure white marsh lily

It grows in temperate and calm waters. The leaves of the plant move along the surface of the water surface. Water lily flowers bloom from the beginning of summer until the first frost. The average diameter of the flowers is about 12-13 cm. They have a fascinating light scent.

What does a swamp lily look like?

• White marsh lily

Rarely seen. The plant is considered to be in the Red Book. The leaves can stretch up to 30 cm. There are a large number of stamens in the middle of the flower. The flower itself has a milky hue. Seed material is found in fruits that are submerged in water.

• Tetrahedral marsh lily

Compact plant, flowers no more than 5 cm in diameter. The main habitat is Siberia.

• Dwarf marsh lily

Small plant. One flower has a diameter of no more than 3 cm. The foliage is red. The flowers are white, yellow and red. The plant goes deep into the water half a meter.

• Fragrant swamp lily

The flowers are about 15 cm in size. The plant goes under water for half a meter. Available in cream, pink and yellow.

Landscape designers most often use white, dwarf and fragrant water lilies in their art, which have very diverse characteristics. The color scheme of the plant is striking in its large selection.

Basically the most unique varieties are hybrids. They can be divided into winter-hardy and tropical ones. The first type is suitable for breeding in home ponds. The second variety is bred in warm water (+ 25 ° C) and planted in an aquarium or greenhouse.

Types of water lilies by type of root system

In addition to dividing into varieties, water lilies are usually divided into groups according to the structure of the rhizome, there is the following classification:

• Conditionally rhizome;
• Tuberous;
• Rhizome;
• Conditionally stolonic.

The rhizome group produces shoots extended along the root system. The variety includes 2 types of marsh lilies that grow in North America. This species is resistant to frost, can live in open water in winter. A large number of varieties have also been hybridized.

Such groups as tuberous, conditionally rhizome and stolon, are most often taken to be relocated indoors, since they do not cope well with low temperatures.

Marsh lily: how to plant

The plant is planted and transported from late spring to early autumn. For planting, experienced gardeners recommend using special containers, since this is much more convenient than using bottom soil, which can complicate the ability to care for the water lily.

It is better to buy a wide plastic container that will have many holes. Also, the container can be made at home.

In order not to have to deal with transplanting a swamp lily every spring, it is better to buy a capacious container. For small plants, you can purchase a 5 liter container. And for large-sized - 10-liter. In this case, the container can be left unchanged for about 5 years.

Tips and tricks:

• To prevent the soil from spilling out due to large holes in the container, it must be covered from below with burlap or a mesh with small holes.
• The water lily is lowered and sprinkled with soil.
• The soil from above must be covered with pebbles, so the earth does not float to the surface of the water. Before lowering into water, the soil is impregnated with water. If fish live in the pond, then a couple of stones should be placed on top of the soil, so the fish will not unearth the lily.
• The prepared plant is immersed in water. The young water lily is deepened slowly, moving the container depending on the growth of the foliage.

Irrigation of swamp lily

After planting in the soil, the plant is watered regularly: 1-2 times a week, pouring about 7-8 liters of water onto one marsh lily. The soil must be completely saturated with liquid. But too much water will not have a beneficial effect on the plant. Usually the plant is planted closer to the edges of the reservoir. If you grow a marsh lily in a reservoir, then you need to change the water 2 times a month

Care methods

To avoid the appearance of fungi and viruses on the plant, you need to use special prophylactic agents. It is best to process a lily in March or before the flower blooms.

How swamp lily winters

If the main habitat of the water lily is a wide pond, then for the winter the plant can live there. The container with the lily is lowered below the level (at least 50 cm) where the plant can freeze.

In case the reservoir is small or the water is removed from it, then the water lilies are removed in more suitable conditions for wintering.

Containers with water lilies are placed in water and transported to the basement.

All varieties of water lilies have a different relationship to wintering. To begin with, before buying, you need to carefully study this issue, so that later you do not think the day before what to do with the plant.

For example, tropical swamp lilies are very beautiful in appearance, but they are not able to fight the cold. They are able to live in very hot climatic conditions, and tolerate low water, but they will not be able to survive cold temperatures. It is best to transport these plants to the home, where they are placed in a container with a small amount of water.

How to propagate a plant

Marsh lily: photo of the bulb

After the pollination period, the plant sinks into the water, where berry-like fruits with a large number of seeds ripen.

After the fruit berry bursts, the seed floats on the surface of the reservoir. Some seeds are transported on their own through the water, while others sink to the bottom and germinate.

Gardeners rarely use seed propagation, most often the marsh lily is propagated roots.

For reproduction, the roots are cut off from the flower, in which the buds are in a dormant state. In the place of the cut, ground charcoal or ash is poured.

You need to divide the plant very quickly. Since foliage and root system do not tolerate terrestrial environment well. To make it easier to move the water lily from place to place, you need to use a container of purified water.

How to collect and prepare a swamp lily flower

The timing of the collection should be set depending on which part of the plant is needed in a given period.

For example, the rhizome is harvested in September. At this moment, it has already nourished a large number of useful microelements. To get a plant, you need to use hooks, then cuttings and foliage, small roots are peeled. Then they need to be washed, chopped into equal parts and dried at home or outdoors in partial shade.

Water lily flowers should be picked during the flowering period. They are cut before 17:00, and if you just need to pick the buds. This can be done at 7:00 or after 17:00 pm. During this period, the plant sinks into the depths. Flowers are applied fresh. They can also be dried at home in a dark place.

The foliage is harvested at any time in the fall, before frost occurs. You can dry them in a darkened room.

Seeds and fruits can be harvested during the plant's flowering period, which lasts less than a week. The seeds float on the water surface, where they are very easy to collect, and the fruits are lowered into the water slightly deep. The collected parts must be dried.

It is popularly believed that before disturbing the plant, you need to bribe the water spirit by throwing a piece of bread or a coin into the water.

You need to pluck a water lily quite a bit, since the plant is in the Red Book, and its number decreases every year.

Marsh lily as a medicine: areas of use and application

Photo of swamp lily flowers

The variety has found widespread use among the people; as a medicine, the white marsh lily is used quite often. Effectively, decoctions from a flower fight heat and have a calming effect on the whole body as a whole. Also, infusions are often used for restless sleep or in the absence of it.

In fine grinding, powder for mustard plasters is used. Water lily root medications can be used to reduce inflammation in the skin.

• If you make infusions from the root system and leaves, then you can easily cope with jaundice and constipation. To increase lactation, the roots are mixed with wort and boiled, then the infusion is drunk.
• If a person suffers from hair loss, then you can make an infusion from the roots and wash your hair with it.
• Infusion of alcohol is used for urolithiasis.
• Swamp lily flowers have analgesic properties, and they are also very often used for medicinal baths.
• The roots of the plant can be dried and ground, and the resulting powder can be baked into bread.

How to relieve pain

Use a water lily in a crushed form. Pour hot water over, put in cheesecloth and wrap. Apply a compress to the area where pain is felt.

Skin cleansing

Fresh plant petals are poured with water and boiled for a quarter of an hour, leave the liquid to infuse for 4 hours. Wash your face every day with a decoction, acne will disappear very quickly.

Fighting bad sleep

A little fresh petals are poured with 1 glass of boiling water, leave for 1 hour, pass the liquid through cheesecloth. Drink the remedy in small portions for insomnia. The broth can be used by people with central nervous system problems.

Heart problems

Take 2 tablespoons of swamp lily petals and red hawthorn, pour 1 glass of hot water. Insist 1 hour, drink the broth once every 2 hours.

Who is contraindicated in the use of swamp lily products?

The plant has, in addition to useful qualities, the property of a poison. Therefore, it is best to use these products under the supervision of a physician.

How to distinguish a lotus from a marsh lily?

The two plants seem to be very similar, but you can find many differences between them:

• The water lily belongs to the Kuvshinkov family, and the Lotus is considered to be the Lotus.
• The lotus family includes two varieties: the Yellow and the Nut-bearing lotus. At the same time, the water lily has about 70 varieties.
• The main difference is the difference in pistils. The lotus has a barrel-shaped pistil in the middle of an open flower. The plant has a stamen ring, which is a characteristic feature of the lotus. The stamens resemble strings, in contrast to the marsh lily, in which they look like small plates.
• Water lily foliage floats on the water surface, and lotus leaves are located above the water.
• The flowers of plants are also different. In the marsh lily, they move on the water, and in the lotus, they are located above the water surface.
• The water lily is classified into a simpler class - Water lilies, and the lotus belongs to the Dicotyledonous class.

But despite all the differences, the flowers are very similar in the structure of flowers and the similarity of the growing seasons.