Nymphaea kakaduensis
| Nymphaea kakaduensis | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| 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]
| |
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| 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
[edit]Vegetative characteristics
[edit]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
[edit]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
[edit]Generative reproduction
[edit]Flowering and fruiting occurs from April to June.[2]
Taxonomy
[edit]Publication
[edit]It was first described by Carl Barre Hellquist, Andre Leu, and Michael L. Moody in 2021.[1]
Type specimen
[edit]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
[edit]The specific epithet kakaduensis references Kakadu National Park, the native habitat and only known location of Nymphaea kakaduensis.[2]
Conservation
[edit]It has a limited distribution, but is not threatened, as it occurs in a protected area.[2]
Ecology
[edit]Habitat
[edit]It is found in billabongs,[3][2] and is associated with Nymphaea pubescens, Nymphaea violacea, and Nymphaea macrosperma.[2]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d "Nymphaea kakaduensis Hellq., A.Leu & M.L.Moody". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 2 January 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Hellquist, C. B., Leu, A., & Moody, M. L. (2021). "Nymphaea kakaduensis (Nymphaeaceae), a new species from the northern portion of the Northern Territory, Australia." Telopea, 24, 267-275.
- ^ Isotype of Nymphaea kakaduensis C. B. Hellquist, A. Leu & M. L. Moody [family NYMPHAEACEAE]. (n.d.). JSTOR. Retrieved January 2, 2024, from https://plants.jstor.org/stable/10.5555/al.ap.specimen.gh02579930?searchUri=filter%3Dname%26so%3Dps_group_by_genus_species%2Basc%26Query%3DNymphaea%2Bkakaduensis