noun
water lily
General term for any plant of the genus Nymphaea.
池に睡蓮が咲いている。
Water lilies are blooming in the pond.
noun
pygmy waterlily
Specifically Nymphaea tetragona, a small species of water lily. Often referred to as ヒツジグサ in Japanese.
See also: ヒツジグサ
Among water lilies, the pygmy waterlily is especially small.
Irregular kanji usage; may be encountered but not standard.
Refers to lotus (Nelumbo nucifera), a different aquatic plant with leaves and flowers that rise above the water, unlike water lilies which float on the surface.
From Chinese 睡蓮 (shuìlián), literally 'sleep lotus', referring to the way the flowers close at night.