Biology:Nymphaea kakaduensis

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Short description: Species of water lily

Nymphaea kakaduensis
Scientific classification edit
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]
Australia in the world (de-facto) (W3).svg
Nymphaea kakaduensis is endemic to the Northern Territory, Australia[1]

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

Description

Vegetative characteristics

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

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

Generative reproduction

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

Taxonomy

Publication

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

Type specimen

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

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

Conservation

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

Ecology

Habitat

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

References

Wikidata ☰ Q124080487 entry