2026-07-16 Waterlily Nuphar lutea

The yellow water-lily, also known as the great yellow water-lily (Nuphar lutea), is a yellow-flowered aquatic plant found in Eurasia.
It grows in all kinds of waters, from small ponds and lakes to streams and brackish sea bays.
The great yellow water-lily is quite common in Finland, all the way up to the Arctic Circle. It looks a lot like another water-lily species found in Finland, the smaller spatterdock.
The great yellow water-lily is slightly poisonous and can lower blood pressure if eaten.

All water lilies are mildly toxic, and their active compounds are the alkaloids nupharine and desoxynupharine. The whole plant is poisonous, but especially the root. Nupharine acts like atropine and papaverine, triggering convulsions and lowering blood pressure. Desoxynupharine also lowers blood pressure and, in addition, causes convulsions.