Wikipedia

Nymphaea pulchella

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]

Nymphaea pulchella
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Embryophytes
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Spermatophytes
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.

Description

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Vegetative characteristics

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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

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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

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Vegetative reproduction

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Proliferating pseudanthia are absent.[3][4]

Generative reproduction

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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

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Publication

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

Placement within Nymphaea

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

Etymology

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

Conservation

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

Ecology

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Trigona spinipes an effective pollinator of Nymphaea pulchella[6]

Habitat

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

Pollination

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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

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

References

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  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.
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