American Lotus Water Lily
American lotus (Nelumbo lutea) is an attractive plant that has, in addition to a beautiful yellow flower, seed pods commonly used in floral arrangements. However, like most water lilies, the plant tends to grow so densely that the leaves can cover a pond's entire surface, making recreational use difficult. The plant does have some slight value as a wildlife food source: wood ducks and mallards eat the large seeds, and muskrats and beavers feed on the leaves, which also provide shade and shelter for small fish and invertebrates. However, water lilies also create an ideal habitat for mosquito larvae. The seeds and tubers are frequently eaten by man, either green or cooked, and have a taste similar to chestnuts.