Nymphaea subg. Nymphaea

'Nymphaea'' subg. Nymphaea' is a subgenus of the genus Nymphaea''.

Vegetative characteristics
Species of Nymphaea subg. Nymphaea have horizontal or vertical rhizomes. The leaf margins are entire, sinuate or crenate, but never dentate.

Generative characteristics
The diurnal flowers float on the water surface. The outer stamens have petaloid filaments. The stamens do not have a sterile appendage at the apex. The carpellary styles are ligulate. The petals are predominantly white, but pink, red, and yellow colouration occurs as well. The large seeds have a smooth surface.

Type species
The type species is Nymphaea alba L.

Species

 * Nymphaea alba L.
 * Nymphaea candida C.Presl
 * Nymphaea leibergii (Morong) Rydb.
 * Nymphaea loriana Wiersema, Hellq. & Borsch
 * Nymphaea mexicana Zucc.
 * Nymphaea odorata Aiton
 * Nymphaea tetragona Georgi
 * Nymphaea × thiona D.B.Ward

Distribution
Nymphaea subg. Nymphaea occurs in the temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere.