This aquatic species is widespread across North America, mostly in somewhat oligotrophic waters. Various segregates have been recognized to the north, west and south. Also, some cultivars and hybrids have been introduced for ornamental use in ponds. The native versus planted status of some records is uncertain; some ponds with colls. were clearly artificial. A coll. from GRAN (KNK) has been identified as the sterile hybrid with the southern species, N. mexicana Zucc. (X thiona Ward); see notes in FNA 3. The chemistry of Nymphaea includes diverse phenolics and benzylisoquinoline alkaloids, The genus has much traditional use for food (all parts) and medicine (Moerman 1998, Lim 2016).