Nymphaea violacea
Species of water lily
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Nymphaea violacea, also known as blue lily,[3] is a species of flowering plant in the family Nymphaeaceae.
| Nymphaea violacea | |
|---|---|
| |
| Nymphaea violacea cultivated at Bergianska trädgården, Stockholm, Sweden | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Order: | Nymphaeales |
| Family: | Nymphaeaceae |
| Genus: | Nymphaea |
| Subgenus: | Nymphaea subg. Anecphya |
| Species: | N. violacea |
| Binomial name | |
| Nymphaea violacea | |
| Synonyms[2] | |
| |
Distribution
Nymphaea violacea is found in Australia, particularly in the Western Australian Kimberley region and in northern parts of Queensland and the Northern Territory.[4]
Description
The flowers are violet, blue or white.[4]
Cytology
The chromosome count is 2n = 112.[5]
Etymology
The specific epithet violacea is derived from the Latin violace, meaning violet coloured. It refers to the floral colouration.[6]
Uses
The waterlily is a bush tucker of the Aboriginal people in northern Australia. The tuber, stem, flowers and seeds are all edible.
Like other species in the genus, the plant contains the psychoactive alkaloid aporphine, which provide sedative effects when ingested.[7]
