Nymphaea macrosperma

Nymphaea macrosperma
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Order: Nymphaeales
Family: Nymphaeaceae
Genus: Nymphaea
Species:
N. macrosperma
Binomial name
Nymphaea macrosperma
Synonyms[2]
  • Nymphaea dictyophlebia Merr. & L.M.Perry

Nymphaea macrosperma is an emergent water plant native to northern Australia.

The water lily occurs in freshwater lagoons, and has large round leaves that float on the water surface.

Description

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Vegetative characteristics

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The leaves have a dentate margin.[3]

Generative characteristics

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The diurnal flowers extend above the water surface.[3]

Taxonomy

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Publication

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It was published by Elmer Drew Merrill and Lily May Perry in 1942.[2] In the same publication, the species was described a second time as Nymphaea dictyophlebia Merr. & L.M.Perry, which is a synonym of Nymphaea macrosperma Merr. & L.M.Perry.[4][2]

Type specimen

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The type specimen was collected by LJ Brass in Lake Daviumbu, New Guinea (British New Guinea) in August 1936.[5]

Position within Nymphaea

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It is placed in Nymphaea subgenus Anecphya.[6]

Etymology

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The specific epithet macrosperma means large-seeded.[7][8]

Conservation

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The NCA status of Nymphaea macrosperma is Special Least Concern (SL).[1]

Uses

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The plant is a traditional Aboriginal bushfood.[9] The seeds are usually described as "sweet like a pea" and are eaten for lunch.[10]

References

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  1. ^ a b Queensland Government. (2022i, March 8). Species profile—Nymphaea macrosperma. Retrieved February 1, 2024, from https://apps.des.qld.gov.au/species-search/details/?id=13387
  2. ^ a b c "Nymphaea macrosperma Merr. & L.M.Perry". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 11 January 2024.
  3. ^ a b Breukel, H. (n.d.). Nymphaea macrosperma Merr. & L.M. Perry. Seerosenforum.de Das Portal Der Seerose. Retrieved February 1, 2024, from https://www.seerosenforum.de/gattung/Anecphya/Macrosperma/Macrosperma.aspx
  4. ^ Jacobs, S. W. L. (1992). "New species, lectotypes and synonyms of Australasian Nymphaea (Nymphaeaceae)." Telopea, 4(4), 635-641.
  5. ^ Type of Nymphaea macrosperma Merr. & L.M.Perry [family NYMPHAEACEAE]. (n.d.). JSTOR. Retrieved February 1, 2024, from https://plants.jstor.org/stable/10.5555/al.ap.specimen.l0038664
  6. ^ Löhne, C., Borsch, T., Jacobs, S. W., Hellquist, C. B., & Wiersema, J. H. (2008). "Nuclear and plastid DNA sequences reveal complex reticulate patterns in Australian water-lilies (Nymphaea subgenus Anecphya, Nymphaeaceae)." Australian Systematic Botany, 21(4), 229-250.
  7. ^ Crataegus macrosperma (large-seeded hawthorn): Go Botany. (n.d.). Native Plant Trust. Retrieved February 1, 2024, from https://gobotany.nativeplanttrust.org/species/crataegus/macrosperma/
  8. ^ Bayton, R. (2020). Practical Uses of Botanical Latin. In The Gardener's Botanical: An Encyclopedia of Latin Plant Names - with More than 5,000 Entries (pp. 22-318). Princeton: Princeton University Press. https://doi.org/10.1515/9780691209135-007
  9. ^ Australian Food Standards, Water lily seed pod analysis
  10. ^ "Part 1". In the Bush with Malcolm Douglas. Season 1. 7 February 2009.