Are these rhizomes or what?

[CT]

These were attached to the roots of a Helvola waterlily gone wild. Some are still attached, some fell off. What are they?

[louis]

hard to tell from the small photo.post a larger one.

lou

[CT]

Sorry, I resized it to miniscule I guess..

[Sean]

That's not Helvola, it's Mexicana.

Cheers,
Sean

[CT]

Ok, It had tiny yellow flowers and was sold to me as Helvola. So how do you tell the difference? Isn't Mexicana a parent of Helvola?

[Sean]

Mexicana is a parent of Helvola as well as many of Strawn's hybrids. You can tell Mexicana right away, it's the only waterlily with the banana type rhizomes (also called the banana waterlily) and it's a real weed that spreads by running stolons that creep about. All of the ones you have will produce new plants. Helvola is smaller than Mexicana and it has a tuber with many branches when mature.

Please be sure if you pass this on to anyone that you make sure to inform them that it is Mexicana. It is so invasive that it could cause problems for someone if they placed it in a large pond or a mud bottom pond.

Cheers,
Sean

[CT]

 I doubt it will be passed on unless someone wants a weed for a little enclosed container That explains why it spread so quickly in the little mud bottom container I had. Thanks for the information Sean.

[PondmaninAL]

Are we talking about Nymphaea Mexicana? Those are native to Florida. If you want to ship some home, I'll be glad to take them.

Happy ponding,
Scott