Nymphaea maculata

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Nymphaea maculata
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Order: Nymphaeales
Family: Nymphaeaceae
Genus: Nymphaea
Species:
N. maculata
Binomial name
Nymphaea maculata
Schumach. & Thonn.[1]
Synonyms[1]
  • Nymphaea discolor Lehm.
  • Nymphaea poecila Lehm.

Nymphaea maculata is a species of waterlily native to tropical Africa.[1]

Description[edit]

Vegetative characteristics[edit]

Nymphaea maculata is a submerged, perennial, aquatic herb[2] with subglobose rhizomes, and many long, filiform roots. The petiolate, ovate-cordate floating leaves[3] have entire margins. The abaxial leaf surface is spotted.[2] The green abaxial leaf surface with black spotting displays prominent, dichotomous, anastomosing venation.[3]

Generative characteristics[edit]

The white, or blueish-white flowers are 3-8 cm wide.[2] The flowers have four sepals,[3] and 5-10 petals.[2] The androecium consists of 30 stamens. The ovary is subglobose, and has 14 stigmatic rays. The carpels have slightly incurved teeth. The multilocular, rounded fruit bears numerous small, arillate,rounded seeds.[3]

Reproduction[edit]

Generative reproduction[edit]

Flowering occurs from February to March.[4]

Taxonomy[edit]

Publication[edit]

It was first described by Heinrich Christian Friedrich Schumacher and Peter Thonning in 1827.[1]

Etymology[edit]

The specific epithet maculata means spotted.[5]

Conservation[edit]

In Benin, it is regarded as vulnerable (VU).[6] It will face changes in land use, and habitat fragmentation.[7]

Ecology[edit]

Habitat[edit]

It occurs in ponds,[8] swamps,[9][8] permanent spring pools,[10] acid, shallow, oligotrophic pools, and shallow pools in marshes with very dark waters.[11] It occurs sympatrically with Nymphaea lotus.[2]

Use[edit]

The rhizome is edible,[12] and the fruits are eaten as well.[13] In Cameroon, Nymphaea maculata is an important melliferous plant for honey production.[14]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d "Nymphaea maculata Schumach. & Thonn". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 3 January 2024.
  2. ^ a b c d e Akobundu, I. O., Agyakwa, C. W. (1987). "A Handbook of West African Weeds." p. 60. Nigeria: International Institute of Tropical Agriculture.
  3. ^ a b c d Schumacher, H. C. F. (1827). Beskrivelse af Guineeiske Planter som ere fundne af dankse Botanikere, især af Etatsraad Thonning. pp. 247-248. http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/openurl?ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft.date=1827&rft.spage=247&rft_id=http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/bibliography/51454&rft_val_fmt=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:book&url_ver=z39.88-2004
  4. ^ "Phenology and Seasonality Modeling." p. 283. (2013). Deutschland: Springer Berlin Heidelberg.
  5. ^ Doi, A. (2000). "Parasikukia maculata, a New Genus and New Species of Cyprinid Fish from Peninsular Thailand." Species Diversity, 5(4), 391-396.
  6. ^ "Stratégie nationale et plan d’actions de gestion durable des écosystèmes de mangroves du Bénin." p. 64. (2020). (n.p.): Food & Agriculture Org..
  7. ^ "Inventaire floristique et faunique des écosystèmes de mangroves et des zones humides côtières du Bénin." p. 53. (2018). (n.p.): Food & Agriculture Org..
  8. ^ a b Engler, A. (1925). "Die Pflanzenwelt Afrikas insbesondere seiner tropischen Gebiete: Grundzüge der Pflanzenverbreitung in Afrika und die Charakterpflanzen Afrikas." pp. 35, 180. Deutschland: W. Engelmann.
  9. ^ "Ressources naturelles et environnement en Afrique." p. 235. (2010). (n.p.): KARTHALA Editions.
  10. ^ "Mitteilungen der Botanischen Staatssammlung München." p. 53. (1971). Deutschland: H. Merxmüller.
  11. ^ Géhu, J. (2000). "Les données de la phytosociologie sigmatiste: structure, gestion, utilisation." pp. 371, 374. Deutschland: J. Cramer.
  12. ^ Malaisse, F. (2010). "How to live and survive in Zambezian open forest (Miombo ecoregion)." p. 80. Belgien: Presses agronomiques de Gembloux.
  13. ^ Hahn, K., Schmidt, M., & Thiombiano, A. (2018). "The use of wild plants for food: a national scale analysis for Burkina Faso (West Africa)." Flora et Vegetatio Sudano-Sambesica, 21, 25-33.
  14. ^ Delphine, D. N., & Joseph, T. (2015). Palynological and physicochemical characterization of honey in the Sudano-Guinean zone of Cameroon. Food and Nutrition Sciences, 6(15), 1339.
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