Nymphaea pulchella
Species of water lily
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Nymphaea pulchella is a species of waterlily native to the regions spanning from Central and Southern Mexico to Brazil, as well as from the Bahamas to the Virgin Islands, including St. Croix.[1]
| Nymphaea pulchella | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Order: | Nymphaeales |
| Family: | Nymphaeaceae |
| Genus: | Nymphaea |
| Subgenus: | Nymphaea subg. Brachyceras |
| Species: | N. pulchella |
| Binomial name | |
| Nymphaea pulchella | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
| |
Description
Vegetative characteristics
Nymphaea pulchella is an aquatic herb[2] with cylindrical to subglobose tubers.[3] The elliptic, suborbicular to orbicular leaves have a sinuate to dentate margin.[4] The veins show minimal prominence on the abaxial leaf surface.[5]
Generative characteristics
The diurnal flowers can extend up to 20 cm above the water surface.[4] They are held up by glabrous, brownish, non-brittle peduncles with six primary central and 12-13 secondary peripheral air canals.[3] The androecium consists of 43-80 stamens.[3] The ellipsoid, smooth, hispid seeds have trichomes arranged in continuous longitudinal lines.[4]
Reproduction
Taxonomy
Publication
It was first described by Augustin Pyramus de Candolle in 1821.[1][5]
Placement within Nymphaea
Etymology
Conservation
In Puerto Rico, USA, it faces habitat destruction.[10]
Ecology
Habitat
It occurs in freshwater habitats, such as lakes, ponds,[11] lagoons,[10] streams, and temporary puddles.[2]
Pollination
The bee species Trigona spinipes is an effective pollinator of Nymphaea pulchella. In some cases, the bees coated in pollen fall into the stigmatic fluid and die.[6][3] The flowers are also visited by the bee species Apis mellifera, as well as flies.[3]
Herbivory
The bee species Trigona spinipes is florivorous, i.e. it consumes parts of the flowers of Nymphaea pulchella.[6]