Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Phylum: Magnoliophyta
Class: Magnolipsida
Order: Nymphaeles
Family: Nymphaeceae
Common name: White water lily
Distribution: United States, Canada
Habitat: Ponds, lakes, rivers, slow-moving streams
Description: This perennial herb (30 cm height) has lat, rounded, reddish,
and alternately arranged loating leaves. The fragrant, white or pink low-
ers also loat on the surface of water. The fruits of this species are green
in color.
Compounds and activities: The extracts of this species have been reported to
possess antimicrobial and anticoagulant activities. While the ethyl gallate
extracts of this species inhibit the growth of
Mycobacterium smegmatis
,
its ethanol extracts inhibit the growth of
S. aureus
(Abul-Hajj et al., 1972).
NELUMBO LUTEA
WILLD
Phylum: Magnoliophyta Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Proteales Family: Nelumbonaceae
Common name: American lotus, yellow or water chinquapin
Distribution: North America, Caribbean Islands
Habitat: Lakes, swamps
Description: This species, which grows to a height of 1.5 m, has its roots
anchored in mud. The leaves and lowers lie above the water's surface. The
leaves measure 30-50 cm in diameter, and the white to pale yellow lowers
are 20-30 cm and with 25 petals each.
Compounds and activities: The bioactive alkaloid compounds, such as
N-methylasimilobine, anonaine, roemerine, nuciferine, armepavine,
N-nornuciferine, and N-norarmepavine, possess antimicrobial activities
(Zelenski, 1977).
