Nymphaea ampla is widely represented in
Mayan art, especially in its depictions with
jaguars and Mayan kings. Its cultural importance can be seen in one of the Mayan names of the plant;
nikte’ha’ (The Maya term nikte’ha’ literally means “flower of the water”, but has also been interpreted symbolically as “vulva of the water”) as it would have represented life, sexual activity, fertility, and birth. The plant causes
opiate-like effects on the user and is known to have been used as a calmative and mild trance inducer. ==Conservation==