| Nymphaea gracilis | |
|---|---|
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| Nymphaea gracilis as Nymphaea flavovirens | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Order: | Nymphaeales |
| Family: | Nymphaeaceae |
| Genus: | Nymphaea |
| Species: | N. gracilis |
| Binomial name | |
| Nymphaea gracilis Zucc. [1] | |
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| Nymphaea gracilis is endemic to Mexico [1] | |
| Synonyms [1] | |
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Nymphaea gracilis is a species of waterlily endemic to Mexico. [1] It is the only species of its genus, which is endemic to Mexico. [2]
Nymphaea gracilis has very short, subglobose rhizomes densely covered with fibrous roots. The petiolate, glabrous, orbicular floating leaves [3] with dentate margins are 35–40 cm long, and 28–35 cm wide. [4] The adaxial leaf surface is bright green, and the abaxial leaf surface is suffused with purple colouration. [3] The terete, 1.2 cm wide petiole is 60–150 cm long. [5]
The flowers are 8–10 cm wide, [4] and extend up to 20–40 cm above the water surface. They have four lanceolate, green sepals and 18-20 white sepals. The androecium consists of 60 stamens. [2] The gynoecium consists of 12-15 carpels. [5] The globose 2–3.5 cm wide fruit bears arillate seeds with a reticulate testa, and trichomes. [2] The flowers are fragrant. [2]
Nymphaea gracilis is facultatively xenogamous. [6]
It was first described by Joseph Gerhard Zuccarini in 1832. [1] [7]
It is placed in Nymphaea subgenus Brachyceras. [8]
The specific epithet gracilis means thin, slender or graceful. [9] [10] [11]
It is considered to be in danger of extinction. [12] [13] [2]
It grows in canals, [14] swamps, shallow ponds,dams, and lakes. [12]
The flowers attract flies and bees. The bee species Apis mellifera is the most important pollinator of Nymphaea gracilis, followed by the fly species Allograpta obliqua , and Asemosyrphus sp. [6]
The rhizomes are eaten both by humans and livestock. [12] [2]
It has been used in artificial hybridisation to create new waterlily cultivars. [15]
Nymphaea is a genus of hardy and tender aquatic plants in the family Nymphaeaceae. The genus has a cosmopolitan distribution. Many species are cultivated as ornamental plants, and many cultivars have been bred. Some taxa occur as introduced species where they are not native, and some are weeds. Plants of the genus are known commonly as water lilies, or waterlilies in the United Kingdom. The genus name is from the Greek νυμφαία, nymphaia and the Latin nymphaea, which mean "water lily" and were inspired by the nymphs of Greek and Latin mythology.
Rhodochiton is a genus of flowering plants within the family Plantaginaceae, native to southern Mexico and neighbouring Guatemala. They climb by means of twining leaf stalks. One of the three species, Rhodochiton atrosanguineus, the purple bell vine, is grown as an ornamental plant. All three species are sometimes included in Lophospermum.
Nymphaea nouchali var. zanzibariensis is a variety of the water lily species Nymphaea nouchali Burm.f. naturally found in the region stretching from Southeastern Kenya to Southern Africa, including the Comoros and Madagascar. It has been Introduced into Florida, USA.
Nymphaea elegans, also known as the tropical royalblue waterlily, is a species of aquatic plants in the family Nymphaeaceae. It is native to the United States, Mexico, and the Bahamas. It has been introduced to Colombia. Additionally, it has been reported to occur in Argentina.
Nymphaea prolifera is a species of waterlily naturally found from Mexico to Brazil and northeastern Argentina. Additionally, it has been reported to occur in Uruguay.
Nymphaea oxypetala is a species of waterlily native to Bolivia, Brazil, Cuba, Ecuador, Paraguay, and Venezuela. It is a remarkable species with excessively acuminate and acute sepals and petals.
Nymphaea rudgeana is a species of waterlily native to the region spanning from Mexico to tropical South America.
Nymphaea tenuinervia is a species of waterlily native to Colombia, Guyana and Brazil.
Nymphaea belophylla is a species of waterlily native to Bolivia, Brazil and Venezuela.
Nymphaea amazonum is a species of water lily native to the region spanning from Mexico to tropical South America. It has been introduced to Bangladesh.
Nymphaea conardii is a species of waterlily native to the region spanning from Southern Mexico to tropical South America.
Nymphaea lasiophylla is a species of waterlily native to East Brazil. It has also been introduced to the Venezuelan Antilles.
Nymphaea divaricata is a species of waterlily native to Angola, Zambia, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Nymphaea heudelotii is a species of waterlily native to the region spanning from tropical West Africa to Uganda and Botswana.
Nymphaea siamensis is a species of waterlily endemic to Thailand.
Nymphaea × thiona is a species of waterlily native to the US-American states Alabama, Florida, and Georgia. Additionally, it has been introduced to Costa Rica, as well as the US-American states Kentucky, and Nevada. It is a natural hybrid of Nymphaea mexicana and Nymphaea odorata.
Nymphaea × daubenyana is a species of waterlily endemic to Chad, but has been introduced to Florida, USA. It is a natural hybrid of Nymphaea micrantha and Nymphaea nouchali var. caerulea.
Nymphaea carpentariae is a species of waterlily native to Queensland and Western Australia.
Nymphaea guineensis is a species of waterlily native to the region spanning from tropical West Africa to Chad.
Nymphaea hastifolia is a species of waterlily native to the Northern Territory, and Western Australia.