Nymphaea abhayana
| Nymphaea abhayana | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Order: | Nymphaeales |
| Family: | Nymphaeaceae |
| Genus: | Nymphaea |
| Species: | N. abhayana
|
| Binomial name | |
| Nymphaea abhayana A.Chowdhury & M.Chowdhury[1]
| |
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| Nymphaea abhayana is endemic to West Bengal, India[1] | |
Nymphaea abhayana is a species of waterlily endemic to India.[1]
Description[edit]
Vegetative characteristics[edit]
Nymphaea abhayana is an annual aquatic herb. The leaves are almost all submerged. The lamina is 13-15 cm long, and 16-18 cm wide. The green petioles are glabrous.[2][3]
Generative characteristics[edit]
The 5-6 cm wide flowers float, but never extend above the water surface. The four 3.7-4 cm long, 0.8-1.2 cm wide sepals display prominent venation. The seven 2.9-3.5 cm long, 0.5-0.7 cm wide petals display blueish-purple colouration. The androecium consists of 13 stamens. The flowers have 6-7 stigmatic rays. The globose, 0.7-2 cm wide fruit bears globose seeds.[2][3]
Reproduction[edit]
Generative reproduction[edit]
Flowering and fruiting occurs from October to December.[3]
Taxonomy[edit]
Publication[edit]
It was first described by A.Chowdhury and M.Chowdhury in 2016.[1]
Type specimen[edit]
The type specimen of Nymphaea abhayana was collected by Anurag et al. in Gorumara National Park, West Bengal, India, on the 16th of November 2014.[2]
Placement within Nymphaea[edit]
It is close to Nymphaea nouchali.[2]
Etymology[edit]
The specific epithet abhayana honours Prof. Abhaya Prasad Das[2] of the University of North Bengal and Rajiv Gandhi University.[4]
Conservation[edit]
Nymphaea abhayana has a very narrow distribution.[2] It is a rare species.[3]
Ecology[edit]
Habitat[edit]
It occurs in ephemeral aquatic habitats, which dry up in December.[2]
References[edit]
- ^ a b c d "Nymphaea abhayana A.Chowdhury & M.Chowdhury". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 29 December 2023.
- ^ a b c d e f g Chowdhury, A., & Chowdhury, M. (2016). "Nymphaea abhayana sp. nov. of Nymphaeaceae from Duars of West Bengal, India." International Journal of Plant Sciences, 5(4), 57-60.
- ^ a b c d Chowdhury, A. (2015). "Studies on the diversity and ethnic uses of wetland vascular plants in Terai and Duars of West Bengal, India (Doctoral dissertation, University of North Bengal").
- ^ Abhaya DAS | Professor | MSc, MPhil, PhD, FLS: Retired Professor | Research profile. (n.d.). ResearchGate. Retrieved December 29, 2023, from https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Abhaya-Das