Nymphaea sinuataSalzm. ex Planch., not validly publ.
Nymphaea ampla, also known as the dotleaf waterlily,[3] is a species of flowering plant in the family Nymphaeaceae.[4] It is native to Texas, Florida, Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean, and northern and western South America.[2]
It is depicted in Mayan art alongside jaguars and kings, held cultural significance as a symbol of life, fertility, and birth, with its opiate-like effects used for calming and inducing mild trances.[5]
Description
Vegetative characteristics
Nymphaea ampla is a perennial herb[6] with dark brown,[7] ovoid, unbranched rhizomes without stolons.[8] The coriaceous,[7] ovate to orbiculate floating leaves[8] with a dentate margin[9] are 15–45 cm long, and 15–45 cm wide.[8]
Generative characteristics
The yellowish white, fragrant, diurnal,[7] 7–18 cm wide flowers[8] extend well beyond the water surface.[7]
Cytology
The chromosome count is n = 14. The genome size is 772.62 Mb.[10] The chloroplast genome is 159879 bp long.[11]
It occurs in ponds, canals,[3][1] open freshwater lagoons, and drainage ditches.[1]
Cultural significance
Nymphaea ampla is widely represented in Mayan art, especially in its depictions with jaguars and Mayan kings. Its cultural importance can be seen in one of the Mayan names of the plant; nikte’ha’ (The Maya term nikte’ha’ literally means “flower of the water”, but has also been interpreted symbolically as “vulva of the water”) as it would have represented life, sexual activity, fertility, and birth. The plant causes opiate-like effects on the user and is known to have been used as a calmative and mild trance inducer.[13]
Conservation
In Guadeloupe it has been classified as near threatened (NT) in the France red list.[14] The NatureServe conservation status is G5 Secure.[1]
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At the Bergianska trädgården
Close-up of flower
