Nymphaea nouchali var. nouchali

Nymphaea nouchali var. nouchali
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Order:	Nymphaeales
Family:	Nymphaeaceae
Genus:	Nymphaea
Species:	N. nouchali
Variety:	N. n. var. nouchali
Trinomial name
Nymphaea nouchali var. nouchali (Autonym) [1]
Synonyms [2]
List Castalia acutiloba (DC.) Hand.-Mazz. Castalia stellaris Salisb. Castalia stellata (Willd.) Blume Leuconymphaea stellata (Willd.) Kuntze Nymphaea acutiloba DC. Nymphaea cahlara Donn Nymphaea cyanea Roxb. ex G.Don Nymphaea henkeliana Rehnelt Nymphaea hookeriana Lehm. Nymphaea membranacea Wall. ex Casp. Nymphaea nouchali var. cyanea (Roxb. ex G.Don) M.R.Almeida Nymphaea punctata Edgew. Nymphaea rhodantha Lehm. Nymphaea stellata Willd. Nymphaea stellata var. albiflora Lovassy Nymphaea stellata var. cyanea (Roxb. ex G.Don) Hook.f. & Thomson Nymphaea stellata var. parviflora Hook.f. & Thomson Nymphaea sumatrana Miq. Nymphaea voalefoka Lat.-Marl.

Nymphaea nouchali var. nouchali is a variety of the water lily species Nymphaea nouchali in the family Nymphaeaceae ^{[3] [4]} native to the region spanning from tropical and subtropical Asia to north Australia. ^[2]

Description

Vegetative characteristics

Nymphaea nouchali var. nouchali is a perennial, ^[5] rhizomatous, ^[6] aquatic herb. ^{[5] [7]} The upper leaf surface is bright green with purple spotting. The lower leaf surface is purple. The petiole is light green. ^[8]

Generative characteristics

The blue, 4.5–9.6 cm wide flower has 8–24 blue, 2.4–7.8 cm long, and 0.3–3 cm wide petals with an acute apex. The gynoecium consists of 6–25 carpels. ^[8]

Taxonomy

It is an autonym, which was generated through the description of Nymphaea nouchali var. caerulea (Savigny) Verdc. ^[1]

Ecology

It occurs in coastal wetlands, marshes, ^[9] and lakes. ^[10]

Distribution

It is native to Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, New Guinea, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam. ^[2]

Conservation

In Sri Lanka, it is a vulnerable species. ^{[7] [6]}

Use

It is the national flower of Sri Lanka. ^[7] It is used as food. ^[5]

References

1. Missouri Botanical Garden. (n.d.). Nymphaea nouchali Burm. f. var. nouchali. Tropicos. Retrieved June 20, 2025, from https://tropicos.org/name/50213141
2. Nymphaea nouchali var. nouchali. (n.d.). Plants of the World Online. Retrieved June 20, 2025, from https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:77224882-1
3. Artfakta: Nymphaea nouchali var. nouchali. (2025). SLU Artdatabanken. Retrieved June 20, 2025, from https://artfakta.se/taxa/6329501/taxonomi
4. Nymphaea nouchali var. nouchali. (n.d.-c). WFO Plant List. Retrieved June 20, 2025, from https://wfoplantlist.org/taxon/wfo-1200024889-2023-12?page=1
5. Shrestha, K., Bhattarai, S., & Bhandari, P. (2018). Handbook of Flowering Plants of Nepal (Vol. 1 Gymnosperms and Angiosperms: Cycadaceae - Betulaceae). p. 45. Scientific Publishers.
6. Perera, P. I. P., Attanayaka, T., Yakandawala, K., Yakandawala, D., Fernando, C., Arachchi, U., ... & Weerasinghe, C. (2021). In vitro culture of Nymphaea nouchali seeds; a conservation approach for a vulnerable species. Journal of the National Science Foundation of Sri Lanka, 49(3).
7. ECERO - Environmental Consultants, Educational and Rehabilitation Organization. (n.d.). Nymphaea nouchali var. nouchali Burm.f. Flora of Sri Lanka. Retrieved June 20, 2025, from https://www.floraofsrilanka.com/species/16
8. Guruge, S., Yakandawala, D., & Yakandawala, K. (2017). A taxonomic synopsis of Nymphaea nouchali Burm. f. and infraspecific taxa. Journal of the National Science Foundation of Sri Lanka, 45, 3.
9. Odedra, K., Shukla, K., & Jadeja, B. A. (2024). Coastal flora of porbandar district, Gujarat, India. Annals of Arid Zone, 63(4), 201-213.
10. Swapna, M., Rajilesh, V., Anoop, K., Ansari, R., & Prakashkumar, R. (2012). A floristic analysis of the wetlands of Wayanad district, Kerala, South India. J. Econ. Taxon. Bot, 36(2), 310–319.