Watch Out for Water-Lilies!

Water-lilies (Nymphaea species) produce the largest flowers among all plants found in Manitoba. However, because these aquatic plants usually grow in deep water, seeing their beautiful blooms up close often requires a boat. This unique challenge makes water-lily researchers a special group of botanists, as they frequently need to enter lakes and rivers to collect samples and study these plants.

The exact distribution of water-lilies throughout Manitoba is still not fully understood. The province’s countless lakes, rivers, and difficult-to-access habitats make surveys challenging. The Manitoba Museum collection currently contains only 64 specimens representing different types of water-lilies.

Four species of water-lilies are known to occur in Manitoba. Three of these are considered uncommon or rare because only a small number of samples have been documented in Canadian plant collections. The following descriptions introduce each species, arranged from largest to smallest, to help identify them while exploring Manitoba’s waterways.

Fragrant Water-lily

(Nymphaea odorata)

The Fragrant Water-lily is a rare species found only in southeastern Manitoba. It produces the largest flowers among the province’s native water-lilies, with blooms measuring between 6 and 19 cm across and containing 17 to 43 petals.

Its leaves are also impressive in size, usually ranging from 10 to 40 cm in diameter. The innermost flower structures, known as carpels, are bright yellow and measure between 3 and 10 mm long.

One of the best locations to observe this species is Lily Pond Lake in Whiteshell Provincial Park, where the flowers typically appear during July.

Lori’s Water-lily

(Nymphaea loriana)

Lori’s Water-lily is a rare species that is native only to Canada. It has been recorded north of Lake Winnipeg in clear, clean water environments, as well as in eastern Saskatchewan. It prefers water that is not cloudy or stained by tannins.

The flowers are slightly smaller than those of the Fragrant Water-lily, measuring about 7.5 to 10 cm wide with 8 to 21 petals. The inner floral structures are a deep yellow colour, similar to the colour of an egg yolk, and are only 2 to 3 mm long.

The leaves typically measure 8 to 21 cm across and have a green colour on both the upper and lower surfaces.

Dwarf Water-lily

(Nymphaea leibergii)

Dwarf Water-lily is the most widespread water-lily species in Manitoba. It can be found in ponds, lakes, and calm streams throughout the southern Boreal Forest region.

Compared with other species, its flowers are much smaller, usually measuring 3 to 7.5 cm in diameter with 8 to 17 petals. The carpels are pale yellow and reach a maximum length of only 1.5 mm.

The leaves range from 2 to 19 cm wide and often have a dark purple colour on their undersides.

Pygmy Water-lily

(Nymphaea tetragona)

Pygmy Water-lily is another uncommon species that appears in scattered locations throughout Manitoba’s Boreal Forest.

This species can be identified by several unique characteristics, including its very small size, bright purple stigma at the centre of the flower, and its square-shaped flower base. Unlike Pygmy Water-lily, other Manitoba water-lilies usually have yellow stigmas and rounded flower bases.

The flowers are similar in size and petal count to those of the Dwarf Water-lily. Its leaves are generally 2 to 13 cm wide, often green with purple markings on the upper surface and glossy green underneath.

Natural Hybrids Between Water-lily Species

Occasionally, Dwarf Water-lilies and Pygmy Water-lilies cross with each other, producing hybrid plants with unusual characteristics.

These hybrids are often larger than either parent species. They typically have square flower bases, larger leaves, and purple colouring on the underside of the leaves.

How to Tell Water-lilies Apart from Pond-lilies

Water-lilies are sometimes mistaken for pond-lilies (Nuphar species), but the two groups have several noticeable differences.

Pond-lilies produce bright yellow flowers with a scent that is sometimes compared to mango. Their leaves are oval-shaped and contain feather-like veins.

Water-lilies, on the other hand, have round leaves with veins that spread outward from the centre, similar to the fingers of an open hand. Their flowers are usually white or pale-coloured and are one of the most recognizable sights on Manitoba’s lakes and rivers.