Nymphaea pulchella

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Nymphaea pulchella
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Order: Nymphaeales
Family: Nymphaeaceae
Genus: Nymphaea
Subgenus: Nymphaea subg. Brachyceras
Species:
N. pulchella
Binomial name
Nymphaea pulchella
Synonyms [1]
  • Castalia pulchella (DC.) Britton
  • Nymphaea ampla subsp. pulchella (DC.) Lovassy
  • Nymphaea ampla var. pulchella (DC.) Casp.
  • Nymphaea ampla var. hookeri Planch.
  • Nymphaea ampla var. salzmannii Planch.
  • Nymphaea ampla subsp. speciosa (Mart. & Zucc.) Lovassy
  • Nymphaea ampla var. speciosa (Mart. & Zucc.) Casp.
  • Nymphaea leiboldiana Lehm.
  • Nymphaea lineata A.St.-Hil.
  • Nymphaea nervosa Lehm.
  • Nymphaea speciosa Mart. & Zucc.
  • Nymphaea trisepala Gaudich.
  • Nymphaea tropaeolifolia Lehm.

Nymphaea pulchella is a species of waterlily native to the regions spanning from Central and Southern Mexico to Brazil, as well as from the Bahamas to the Virgin Islands, including St. Croix. [1]

Contents

Description

Vegetative characteristics

Nymphaea pulchella is an aquatic herb [2] with cylindrical to subglobose tubers. [3] The elliptic, suborbicular to orbicular leaves have a sinuate to dentate margin. [4] The veins show minimal prominence on the abaxial leaf surface. [5]

Generative characteristics

The diurnal flowers can extend up to 20 cm above the water surface. [4] They are held up by glabrous, brownish, non-brittle peduncles with six primary central and 12-13 secondary peripheral air canals. [3] The androecium consists of 43-80 stamens. [3] The ellipsoid, smooth, hispid seeds have trichomes arranged in continuous longitudinal lines. [4]

Reproduction

Vegetative reproduction

Proliferating pseudanthia are absent. [3] [4]

Generative reproduction

It is autogamous, but reproduction is more fruitful in the presence of pollinators. [6] Flowering and fruiting occurs throughout the year. Generative reproduction is the main mode of reproduction. [3]

Taxonomy

Publication

It was first described by Augustin Pyramus de Candolle in 1821. [1] [5]

Placement within Nymphaea

It is placed in Nymphaea subgenus Brachyceras. [7] [6]

Etymology

The specific epithet pulchella means "beautiful" or "pretty". [8] [9]

Conservation

In Puerto Rico, USA, it faces habitat destruction. [10]

Ecology

Trigona spinipes an effective pollinator of Nymphaea pulchella Irapua - REFON.jpg
Trigona spinipes an effective pollinator of Nymphaea pulchella

Habitat

It occurs in freshwater habitats, such as lakes, ponds, [11] lagoons, [10] streams, and temporary puddles. [2]

Pollination

The bee species Trigona spinipes is an effective pollinator of Nymphaea pulchella. In some cases, the bees coated in pollen fall into the stigmatic fluid and die. [6] [3] The flowers are also visited by the bee species Apis mellifera , as well as flies. [3]

Herbivory

The bee species Trigona spinipes is florivorous, i.e. it consumes parts of the flowers of Nymphaea pulchella. [6]

Related Research Articles

<i>Victoria</i> (plant) Genus of aquatic plants

Victoria or giant waterlily is a genus of aquatic herbs in the plant family Nymphaeaceae. Its leaves have a remarkable size: Victoria boliviana produces leaves up to 3.2 metres (10 ft) in width. The genus name was given in honour of Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom.

<i>Nymphaea</i> Genus of aquatic plants

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 means "water lily" and were inspired by the nymphs of Greek and Latin mythology.

<i>Trigona spinipes</i> Species of bee

Trigona spinipes is a species of stingless bee. It occurs in Brazil, where it is called arapuá, aripuá, irapuá, japurá or abelha-cachorro ("dog-bee"). The species name means "spiny feet" in Latin. Trigona spinipes builds its nest on trees, out of mud, resin, wax, and assorted debris, including dung. Therefore, its honey is not fit for consumption, even though it is reputed to be of good quality by itself, and is used in folk medicine. Colonies may have from 5,000 to over 100,000 workers.

<i>Nymphaea glandulifera</i> Species of water lily

Nymphaea glandulifera is a species of waterlily native to tropical America.

<i>Nymphaea gardneriana</i> Species of water lily

Nymphaea gardneriana is a species of waterlily native to Cuba and tropical South America.

<i>Nymphaea oxypetala</i> Species of water lily

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.

<i>Nymphaea rudgeana</i> Species of water lily

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.

<i>Nymphaea caatingae</i> Species of water lily

Nymphaea caatingae is a species of waterlily endemic to Northeast Brazil.

Nymphaea conardii is a species of waterlily native to the region spanning from Southern Mexico to tropical South America.

<i>Nymphaea francae</i> Species of water lily

Nymphaea francae is a species of waterlily endemic to Brazil.

<i>Nymphaea harleyi</i> Species of water lily

Nymphaea harleyi is a species of waterlily endemic to Brazil.

<i>Nymphaea paganuccii</i> Species of water lily

Nymphaea paganuccii is a species of waterlily endemic to Brazil.

<i>Nymphaea rapinii</i> Species of water lily

Nymphaea rapinii is a species of waterlily endemic to Brazil.

<i>Nymphaea lasiophylla</i> Species of water lily

Nymphaea lasiophylla is a species of waterlily native to East Brazil. It has also been introduced to the Venezuelan Antilles.

<i>Nymphaea vanildae</i> Species of water lily

Nymphaea vanildae is a species of waterlily endemic to Pernambuco, Brazil.

Nymphaea pedersenii is a species of waterlily native to Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, and Uruguay.

Nymphaea lingulata is a species of waterlily native to Bolivia, Brazil, and Paraguay.

<i>Nymphaea <span style="font-style:normal;">subg.</span> Hydrocallis</i> Subgenus of flowering plants

Nymphaea subg. Hydrocallis is a subgenus of the genus Nymphaea.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Nymphaea pulchella DC". Plants of the World Online . Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew . Retrieved 19 July 2023.
  2. 1 2 Felix, C. D. M. P. (2019). "Etnobotânica, florística, e citogenética na Serra do Jatobá, no Cariri da Paraíba, nordeste do Brasil."
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 de Lima, C. T., Machado, I. C., & Giulietti, A. M. (2021). "Nymphaeaceae of Brasil." Sitientibus série Ciências Biológicas, 21.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Pellegrini, M. O. O. & Jardim Botânico do Rio de Janeiro. (n.d.-b). Nymphaea pulchella DC. Flora E Funga Do Brasil. Retrieved December 29, 2023, from https://floradobrasil.jbrj.gov.br/FB19912
  5. 1 2 "Regni vegetabilis systema naturale, sive ordines, genera et species plantarum secundum methodi naturalis normas digestarum et descriptarum." p. 51. (1821). Vereinigtes Königreich: (n.p.).
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 Chalegre, S. L., Domingos-Melo, A., de Lima, C. T., Giulietti, A. M., & Machado, I. C. (2020). Nymphaea pulchella (Nymphaeaceae) and Trigona spinipes (Apidae) interaction: From florivory to effective pollination in ponds surrounded by pasture. Aquatic Botany, 166, 103267.
  7. Marquina, S., Bonilla-Barbosa, J., & Alvarez, L. (2005). "Comparative phytochemical analysis of four Mexican Nymphaea species." Phytochemistry, 66(8), 921-927.
  8. Dictionary of Botanical Epithets. (n.d.). Retrieved December 29, 2023, from http://botanicalepithets.net/dictionary/dictionary.150.html
  9. What do those botanical names mean - Rainyside.com. (n.d.). Retrieved December 29, 2023, from https://www.rainyside.com/resources/reference/latin.html
  10. 1 2 Woodbury, R. O. (1975). "Rare and Endangered Plants of Puerto Rico: A Committee Report." p. 61. USA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Soil Conservation Service.
  11. Liogier, A. H., Martorell, L. F. (2000). "Flora of Puerto Rico and adjacent islands : a systematic synopsis." p. 58. Puerto Rico: Ed. de la Universidad.