Family · Magnoliids & basal

Nymphaeaceae

Water lilies

Rooted aquatic herbs with floating leaves and showy flowers, including the giant Amazon water lily Victoria.

Accepted species: 101accepted names · Kew WCVP
Genera: 5accepted genera · Kew WCVP
Origin: ≈110 MaCretaceous · crown age, Jin & Qian 2022 megatree
Centre of diversity: Southern Americamost native species · WGSRPD

Open Nymphaeaceae in the treePan, zoom and dig into its genera in the interactive view.

Plants you might know

Nymphaea
Victoria (giant water lily)
Nuphar

Genera

Nymphaea69 spp.
Nuphar20 spp.
Barclaya8 spp.
Victoria3 spp.
Euryale1 spp.

Where it grows

Southern America29
Northern America25
Asia-Tropical21
Australasia19
Asia-Temperate16
Africa14
Europe8

Native species richness by botanical continent (WGSRPD level 1), from Kew WCVP.

Related families

Nymphaeaceae sits in the order Nymphaeales.