Nymphaea lasiophylla

Nymphaea lasiophylla is an aquatic herb^[2] with cylindrical tubers.^[3] The leaf blade is suborbicular to orbicular and has an entire, flat margin. The actinodromous leaf venation with impressed veins^[2] has 7-11 primary veins.^[4]

The nocturnal flowers float on the water surface.^[2] The crimson red, 6-7 mm long carpellary appendages are clavate.^[4]

The strongly aromatic,^[5] solvent-like floral fragrance consists of twelve compounds: Methyl hexanoate, Methyl 2-methylbutanoate, Ethyl 2-methylbutanoate, Methyl 2-hydroxy-2-methylbutanoate, Methyl 3-hydroxy-2-methylpropanoate, Benzyl alcohol, Benzaldehyde, Methyl benzoate, Benzyl 2-methylbutanoate, Anisole, (methoxymethyl)benzene, and 1.4-dimethoxybenzene.^[6]

The diploid chromosome count is 2n = 18.^[5]

Both stolons^[5] and proliferating pseudanthia are present. Nymphaea lasiophylla forms 1-2 secondary proliferating pseudanthia.^[7] They are the main mode of reproduction in this species.^[5][8] The tubers, which often develop leaves and roots prior to their detachment, break off easily from the proliferating pseudanthia. They briefly float in the water and grow into new plants elsewhere.^[5]

While generative reproduction does occur, its significance is diminished by the prominence of vegetative reproduction through proliferating pseudanthia.^[8] Seeds were only observed in one of 20 populations.^[5]

It was first described by Carl Friedrich Philipp von Martius and Joseph Gerhard Zuccarini in 1832.^[1]

The type specimen was collected close to Joazerio in the state of Bahia, Brazil.^[3][9][4]

It is placed in Nymphaea subg. Hydrocallis.^[5]

Plant material previously believed to be Nymphaea lasiophylla was later assigned to a new species, Nymphaea caatingae.^[3]

The specific epithet lasiophylla means woolly-leaved.^[10] However, the name is misleading, as the authors mistook a layer of algae as trichomes.^[4][9][5]