Spatterdock is a curious word. Sounding like a platform floating on the water attached at the shore with drops of wet paint on it.

Nuphar advena is even more mysterious sounding, but is the scientific name for the Common Spatterdock plant species. That translates to something like “water lily stranger” or “lotus blossom foreigner”.

It goes by dozens of common names, such as, cow lily, yellow pond lily, bullhead lily, yellow water lily, brandy bottle, beaver lily, arrow-leaf pond lily, yellow lotus, and more. But the name “yellow floating heart” seems to suit it best.

Its leaf is heart-shaped, about a foot in length and when in bloom, there is a round yellow blossom held up above the leaf by its thick stem. Normally the leaf floats on the surface in the shallows near the shoreline of a slow moving fresh water source. And water droplets are often seen pooling on the flat, broad leaf top.

Thinking now about the name and imagery of the plant, it makes sense that a botanist could’ve arrived at the whimsical name of “Spatterdock”. But seeing the nature and beauty of the plant as it has recently arrived, my preference is for the more romantic and descriptive “Yellow Floating Heart”.

Call it what you will, it’s a pleasure to see anytime.

Words and images by Michael J. Hall