Water Lilies as Beaver Food

Abstract

Thirty complete yellow water lily plants and root systems were removed from the bottom. Two species of yellow lily were identified, Nuphar microphyllum (Pers.) Fern. and N. variegatum Engelm. Tab. 1 contains size and weight data. Nuphar variegatum grew on muddier, organogenic substrates and produced the largest and fleshiest roots, up to 10 cm in diameter. The stems which support the leaves do not sprout all along the root, but only from nodes spaced at intervals along the root. There was always a forking of the root at the node, resulting in a root system containing up to five branches. The longest internodal distance was 36 cm, the shortest was 10 cm. The longest overall root system was 69 cm. I could find no relationship between size or number of leaves on the surface and size of root beneath. From 6 to 14 stalks