Nymphaea potamophila
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| Nymphaea potamophila | |
|---|---|
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| Preserved herbarium specimen of Nymphaea potamophila Wiersema in the collection of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Order: | Nymphaeales |
| Family: | Nymphaeaceae |
| Genus: | Nymphaea |
| Subgenus: | Nymphaea subg. Hydrocallis |
| Species: | N. potamophila |
| Binomial name | |
| Nymphaea potamophila Wiersema[1] | |
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| It is native to Venezuela and northern Brazil[1] | |
Nymphaea potamophila is a species of waterlily native to the region spanning from Venezuela to northern Brazil.[1] Additionally, it has been reported to occur in Colombia.[2][3]
Vegetative characteristics
Nymphaea potamophila is an aquatic herb. The elliptic-sagittate, papery leaf blades of floating leaves are up to 20 cm long and 10 cm wide.[4] The leaf margin is entire and flat.[5] The adaxial surface is coloured in green with overlaying patterns of red variegation. The abaxial surface has a greenish base colour accompanied by dark red variegation, but also exhibits patterns of branched, rusty-brown striations.[4] The leaf structure is compact and the leaves are very thin (145.50 μm). This gives the leaves cold tolerance.[6] The glabrous, 3 mm wide petioles are very long and can exceed 4 m in length.[4]
Generative characteristics
The nocturnal floating flowers are connected to glabrous, 4 mm wide peduncles, which can exceed 4 m in length.[4][7]