Photographs: Co. Cork and Co. Limerick

White Water-lily Nymphaea alba Bacán bán Family: Nymphaeaceae Flowering time: June-August. Perennial. Native. The large white flowers are slightly scented with 20-25 petals. Large, floating dark green leaves grow on long stalks from very fleshy rhizomes at the bottom of the pond or river. Can form very large, tangled plants. Grows in ponds, lakes and slow-moving rivers but most frequent in the south-west, west and north of Ireland. Similar: Yellow Water-lily, Nuphar lutea. Small yellow flowers and large, round leathery floating leaves. Native.

White Water-lily, Nymphaea alba, Bacán bán