Nuphar sp.
Cow-lily, yellow pond-lily, Yellow Pond-Lily
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Family: Nymphaeaceae · Type: Perennial · Native
Nuphar sp. (Cow-lily) is a native California perennial in the Nymphaeaceae family.
How to tell it apart
vs Nymphaea: Nuphar flowers are yellow cups that stay partly closed; waterlily flowers spread flat and open wide in white, pink, or yellow.; vs Polygala: Nuphar is aquatic with large floating leaves and yellow globe flowers; Polygala is terrestrial with small leaves and pink/purple flowers.; vs Romneya: Nuphar has yellow globe flowers above water; Romneya has large white poppy flowers on upright stems on land.; vs Carpenteria: Nuphar is aquatic with floating leaves; Carpenteria is a terrestrial shrub with white flowers.; vs Hypericum: Nuphar is aquatic with globe-shaped yellow flowers; Hypericum is terrestrial with flat, star-shaped yellow flowers.
Frequently asked questions
Is Nuphar sp. native to California?
Yes. Nuphar sp. is native to California (recorded as native).
What plant family does Nuphar sp. belong to?
Nuphar sp. is in the Nymphaeaceae family, genus Nuphar.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-04-14
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.