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Service Notice

The Western Australian Herbarium’s collections management system and census were set to read-only mode on 1 October 2025. Taxonomic updates published since this time are not being reflected in Florabase, herbarium collections, or Western Australia’s taxonomic names census (Nomos). Conservation listings displayed on Florabase may also be out of date. Please refer to DBCA’s Threatened species and communities webpage for the most recent Threatened and Priority Flora List, noting that recent taxonomic updates are similarly not included. Our database migration is moving to a staging phase. We thank you for your patience as we ensure the integrity of our biodiversity data, develop new workflows, and train staff to use the new systems. Please reach out to us if you have any questions or concerns.

The notice period started at 12:00 pm on Wednesday, 1 October 2025 +08:00 and will end at 12:00 pm on Friday, 1 January 2027 +08:00.

Nymphaea mexicana Zucc.
Yellow Waterlily

Reference
Abh.Math.-Phys.Cl.Königl.Bayer.Akad.Wiss. 1:365-367 (1829)
Conservation Code
Not threatened
Naturalised Status
Alien to Western Australia
Name Status
Current

Floating-leaved, aquatic rhizomatous, perennial, herb. Fl. yellow, Dec. Swamps & rivers.

Grazyna Paczkowska, Descriptive Catalogue, 16 May 1996

Distribution

IBRA Regions
Swan Coastal Plain.
IBRA Subregions
Perth.
Local Government Areas (LGAs)
Bayswater, Busselton, Swan.

Management Notes (for the Swan NRM Region)

General Biology. Life form. Perennial. Reproduction. The plant has vertical knobbly rhizomes which take root in the substrate and produce new horizontal stems (stolons). If these stolons break, they can re-establish elsewhere.. Fire response. Aquatic species, therefore not affected by fire..

Notes. Aquatic perennial, with emergent leaves and flowers. Leaves are waxy, elliptical and become erect when crowded. Flowers are yellow. Underwater rhizomes produce white horizontal stems (stolons) that produce new plants at the nodes. New plants forming at the nodes can easily detach and establish elsewhere..

Additional information. Origin. Native to southern USA and northern Mexico.. History of use/introduction. Extensively used as an aquatic ornamental..

Suggested method of management and control. Water lily can be manually cut and removed, but it is difficult to control as it can re-establish from seeds and rhizomes. Apply glyphosate or aquatic approved herbicide twice per year, treatment during late summer/ autumn when water levels are lowest increases efficiency. Read the manufacturers' labels and material safety data sheets before using herbicides. For further information consult the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority to determine the status of permits for your situation or state.

References