Nymphaea oxypetala

Nymphaea oxypetala
Botanical illustration of Nymphaea oxypetala
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Order:	Nymphaeales
Family:	Nymphaeaceae
Genus:	Nymphaea
Subgenus:	Nymphaea subg. Hydrocallis
Species:	N. oxypetala
Binomial name
Nymphaea oxypetala Planch. [1]
Synonyms [1]
Leuconymphaea oxypetala (Planch.) Kuntze Nymphaea raja Lehm.

Nymphaea oxypetala is a species of waterlily native to Bolivia, Brazil, Cuba, Ecuador, Paraguay, and Venezuela. ^[1] It is a remarkable species with excessively acuminate and acute sepals and petals. ^[2]

Description

Flowering Nymphaea oxypetala in Rio Vira Sebo, Brazil

Submerged leaf of Nymphaea oxypetala with scale bar (10 cm)

Flower of Nymphaea oxypetala with scale bar (5 cm)

Flowers of Nymphaea oxypetala with scale bar (10 cm)

Vegetative characteristics

Sprouting Nymphaea oxypetala Planch. rhizome with scale bar (3 cm) against a white background

Unlike most other waterlilies, this species rarely produces floating leaves. The strongly reduced floating leaves are only produced very rarely. ^[3] The smaller floating leaves are up to 6 cm large. The purplish-green, submerged, saggitate, membranous leaves are significantly larger with up to 30 cm big leaf blades. ^[4] The broad submerged leaves display a likeness to the leaves of lettuce. ^[5] The petioles are fragile and leaves break of easily. ^[3]

Generative characteristics

The nocturnal flowers float on the water surface. ^[3] The stamens are purple. The cream-coloured, 2 cm long carpellary appendages are abruptly folded at the apex. ^[4] They are the longest carpellary appendages of all Nymphaea species. ^[3] The floral fragrance has been described as ether-like. ^[6]

Cytology

The chromosome count of this polyploid species is 6n = 84. ^[7]

Reproduction

Vegetative reproduction

This species is likely not stoloniferous. ^[6] Proliferating pseudanthia are also lacking in Nymphaea oxypetala. ^{[8] [9]}

Generative reproduction

Flowering occurs throughout March to August. ^[4]

Ecology

Habitat

It is associated with lotic habitats, ^[10] These aquatic habitats are defined by the presence of moving water. ^[11] It occurs in floodplains, river branches and in seasonal streams. ^[12] In the Pantanal it occurs in the flooding area of the Paraguay River, Nabileque, Abobral and Poconé. ^[4] In the Bolivian Pantanal, Nymphaea oxypetala was observed growing at depths of up to 2 m in gaps amid mats of floating vegetation and in localities where human activities prevented the growth of such floating mats along the margins. ^[3]

Taxonomy

Type specimen

The type specimen was collected by W. Jameson in March 1845 in Ecuador near Guayaquil. ^{[6] [9]}

Placement within Nymphaea

It is placed within Nymphaea subg. Hydrocallis. ^[13]

Etymology

The specific epithet oxypetala refers to the pointed petals of this species. ^[4]

Conservation

The conservation status in Brazil is not evaluated (NE). ^[8]

Cultivation

It is kept as an aquarium plant, as well as in small containers of water. ^[14] It is intolerant of cold, turbid and saline water and favours clear, slowly flowing freshwater. ^[6]

References

1. "Nymphaea oxypetala Planch". Plants of the World Online . Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew . Retrieved 12 November 2023.
2. "Flore des Serres et des Jardins de l'Europe 8: 120." 1853. (Mar 1853)
3. Ritter, N. P., Crow, G. E., & Wiersema, J. H. (2001). "Nymphaea (Nymphaeaceae) in Bolivia: notes on several species, three new country records, and a key to species." Rhodora, 103(915), 326-331.
4. Pott, V. J. (1998). "The Nymphaeaceae family in the Pantanal, Mato Grosso and Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil." Acta Botanica Brasilica, 12, 183-194.
5. Del Claro, K., Oliveira, P. S., & Rico-Gray, V. (2009). Tropical Biology and Conservation Management - Volume I: Natural History of Tropical Plants. p. 105. EOLSS Publications. https://books.google.com/books?id=oSDXCwAAQBAJ&dq=nymphaea%20oxypetala&pg=PA105
6. Wiersema, J. H. (1987). A monograph of Nymphaea subgenus Hydrocallis (Nymphaeaceae). Systematic Botany Monographs, 1-112.
7. Loehne, C., Borsch, T., & Wiersema, J. H. (2007). "Phylogenetic analysis of Nymphaeales using fast-evolving and noncoding chloroplast markers." Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 154(2), 141-163.
8. Pellegrini, M. O. O. & Jardim Botânico do Rio de Janeiro. (n.d.). Nymphaea oxypetala Planch. Flora E Funga Do Brasil. Retrieved November 24, 2023, from https://floradobrasil.jbrj.gov.br/FB118426
9. Lima, C. T. de, Machado, I. C., & Giulietti, A. M. (2021). "Nymphaeaceae do Brasil." SITIENTIBUS série Ciências Biológicas, 21. https://doi.org/10.13102/scb4986
10. Pott, V. J., Pott, A., Lima, L. C. P., Moreira, S. N., & Oliveira, A. K. (2011). "Aquatic macrophyte diversity of the Pantanal wetland and upper basin." Brazilian Journal of Biology, 71, 255-263.
11. Reinbold, Joan. (2023, November 13). Lentic & Lotic Ecosystems. sciencing.com. Retrieved from https://sciencing.com/lentic-lotic-ecosystems-7355077.html
12. Damasceno-Junior, G. A., & Pott, A. (2022). Flora and vegetation of the Pantanal Wetland. p. 241. Springer Nature. https://books.google.com/books?id=ZiFnEAAAQBAJ&dq=nymphaea%20oxypetala&pg=PA241
13. de Andrade Amador, G., Damasceno-Júnior, G. A., da Silva, R. H., Pott, A., & Pott, V. J. (2013). "Nymphaeaceae, Nymphaea belophylla Trickett: new state record." Check List, 9(2), 440-442.
14. Breukel, H. (n.d.). Nymphaea oxypetala Planchon. Seerosenforum.de Das Portal Der Seerose. Retrieved November 12, 2023, from https://www.seerosenforum.de/gattung/Hydrocallis/oxypetala/oxypetala.aspx