Nuphar lutea

Native to Europe, northwestern Africa, and western Asia, it is an aquatic perennial rooted in the muddy bottoms of freshwater habitats. Rounded yellow flowers rise above the water on stout stalks. Broad outer segments form a cup around a conspicuous central disk. The plant spreads through thick underwater rhizomes and produces floating leaves. It belongs to the water lily family, Nymphaeaceae. Photographed in Ecuador.