Nymphaea kakaduensis is a species of waterlily endemic to the Northern Territory, Australia.[1]

Nymphaea kakaduensis
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Order: Nymphaeales
Family: Nymphaeaceae
Genus: Nymphaea
Species:
N. kakaduensis
Binomial name
Nymphaea kakaduensis
Hellq., A.Leu & M.L.Moody[1]
Nymphaea kakaduensis is endemic to the Northern Territory, Australia[1]

Description

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Vegetative characteristics

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Nymphaea kakaduensis is a perennial aquatic plant with a globose rhizome. The petiolate, oval to oval-elliptic, 15.6-17.4 cm long, and 11.8-16.6 cm wide leaves have an entire, slightly undulate, or sinuate-crenate margin. The adaxial leaf surface is dark green, and the abaxial leaf surface is dark purple. The petiole is brownish-green, and exhibits fused stipules.[2]

Generative characteristics

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The 5.5–10.5 cm wide, fragrant, cupped flowers extend above the water surface. The white, pink, brown, or green sepals are 3–6 cm long, and 1–2.6 cm wide. The 14-27 ovate–elliptic, white, more rarely blue, or pinkish petals are 2–5 cm long and 0.6–2 cm wide. The androecium consists of 80-200 yellow stamens. The gynoecium consists of 14-30 carpels. The globose, 2–4 cm wide fruit bears 1.8-2.1 mm long, 1.2-1.3 mm wide, dark brown to dark olive seeds with a longitudinal ridge.[2]

Reproduction

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Generative reproduction

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Flowering and fruiting occurs from April to June.[2]

Taxonomy

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Publication

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It was first described by Carl Barre Hellquist, Andre Leu, and Michael L. Moody in 2021.[1]

Type specimen

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The type specimen of Nymphaea kakaduensis was collected by Carl Barre Hellquist, Andre Leu, and Fred Baird in a billabong at the upper end of Jim Jim Creek within Kakadu National Park, Northern Territory, Australia on the 29th of April 2011.[2]

Etymology

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The specific epithet kakaduensis references Kakadu National Park, the native habitat and only known location of Nymphaea kakaduensis.[2]

Conservation

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It has a limited distribution, but is not threatened, as it occurs in a protected area.[2]

Ecology

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Habitat

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It is found in billabongs,[3][2] and is associated with Nymphaea pubescens, Nymphaea violacea, and Nymphaea macrosperma.[2]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d "Nymphaea kakaduensis Hellq., A.Leu & M.L.Moody". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 2 January 2024.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h Hellquist, C. B., Leu, A., & Moody, M. L. (2021). "Nymphaea kakaduensis (Nymphaeaceae), a new species from the northern portion of the Northern Territory, Australia." Telopea, 24, 267-275.
  3. ^ Isotype of Nymphaea kakaduensis C. B. Hellquist, A. Leu & M. L. Moody [family NYMPHAEACEAE]. (n.d.). JSTOR. Retrieved January 2, 2024, from https://plants.jstor.org/stable/10.5555/al.ap.specimen.gh02579930?searchUri=filter%3Dname%26so%3Dps_group_by_genus_species%2Basc%26Query%3DNymphaea%2Bkakaduensis