Nymphaea oxypetala

Nymphaea oxypetala
Botanical illustration of Nymphaea oxypetala
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Order:	Nymphaeales
Family:	Nymphaeaceae
Genus:	Nymphaea
Subgenus:	Nymphaea subg. Hydrocallis
Species:	N. oxypetala
Binomial name
Nymphaea oxypetala Planch.[1]
Synonyms[1]
Leuconymphaea oxypetala (Planch.) Kuntze Nymphaea raja Lehm.

Nymphaea oxypetala is a species of waterlily native to Bolivia, Brazil, Cuba, Ecuador, Paraguay, and Venezuela.[1] It is a remarkable species with excessively acuminate and acute sepals and petals.[2]

Description

Flowering Nymphaea oxypetala in Rio Vira Sebo, Brazil

Vegetative characteristics

Two dormant subglobose Nymphaea oxypetala Planch. rhizomes with scale bar (2 cm) against a white background

Sprouting Nymphaea oxypetala Planch. rhizome with scale bar (3 cm) against a white background

Unlike most other waterlilies, this species rarely produces floating leaves. The strongly reduced floating leaves are only produced very rarely.[3] The smaller floating leaves are up to 6 cm large. The purplish-green, submerged, saggitate, membranous leaves are significantly larger with up to 30 cm big leaf blades.[4] The broad submerged leaves display a likeness to the leaves of lettuce.[5] The petioles are fragile and leaves break of easily.[3]

Generative characteristics

The nocturnal flowers float on the water surface.[3] The stamens are purple. The cream-coloured, 2 cm long carpellary appendages are abruptly folded at the apex.[4] They are the longest carpellary appendages of all Nymphaea species.[3] The floral fragrance has been described as ether-like.[6]

Cytology

The chromosome count of this polyploid species is 6n = 84.[7]

Reproduction

Vegetative reproduction

This species is likely not stoloniferous.[6] Proliferating pseudanthia are also lacking in Nymphaea oxypetala.[8][9]

Generative reproduction

Flowering occurs throughout March to August.[4]

Ecology

Habitat

It is associated with lotic habitats,[10] These aquatic habitats are defined by the presence of moving water.[11] It occurs in floodplains, river branches and in seasonal streams.[12] In the Pantanal it occurs in the flooding area of the Paraguay River, Nabileque, Abobral and Poconé.[4] In the Bolivian Pantanal, Nymphaea oxypetala was observed growing at depths of up to 2 m in gaps amid mats of floating vegetation and in localities where human activities prevented the growth of such floating mats along the margins.[3]

Taxonomy

Type specimen

The type specimen was collected by W. Jameson in March 1845 in Ecuador near Guayaquil.[6][9]

Placement within Nymphaea

It is placed within Nymphaea subg. Hydrocallis.[13]

Etymology

The specific epithet oxypetala refers to the pointed petals of this species.[4]

Conservation

The conservation status in Brazil is not evaluated (NE).[8]

Cultivation

It is kept as an aquarium plant, as well as in small containers of water.[14] It is intolerant of cold, turbid and saline water and favours clear, slowly flowing freshwater.[6]

References

1. "Nymphaea oxypetala Planch". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 12 November 2023.
2. "Flore des Serres et des Jardins de l'Europe 8: 120." 1853. (Mar 1853)
3. Ritter, N. P., Crow, G. E., & Wiersema, J. H. (2001). "Nymphaea (Nymphaeaceae) in Bolivia: notes on several species, three new country records, and a key to species." Rhodora, 103(915), 326-331.
4. Pott, V. J. (1998). "The Nymphaeaceae family in the Pantanal, Mato Grosso and Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil." Acta Botanica Brasilica, 12, 183-194.
5. Del Claro, K., Oliveira, P. S., & Rico-Gray, V. (2009). Tropical Biology and Conservation Management - Volume I: Natural History of Tropical Plants. p. 105. EOLSS Publications. https://books.google.com/books?id=oSDXCwAAQBAJ&dq=nymphaea%20oxypetala&pg=PA105
6. Wiersema, J. H. (1987). A monograph of Nymphaea subgenus Hydrocallis (Nymphaeaceae). Systematic Botany Monographs, 1-112.
7. Loehne, C., Borsch, T., & Wiersema, J. H. (2007). "Phylogenetic analysis of Nymphaeales using fast-evolving and noncoding chloroplast markers." Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 154(2), 141-163.
8. Pellegrini, M. O. O. & Jardim Botânico do Rio de Janeiro. (n.d.). Nymphaea oxypetala Planch. Flora E Funga Do Brasil. Retrieved November 24, 2023, from https://floradobrasil.jbrj.gov.br/FB118426
9. Lima, C. T. de, Machado, I. C., & Giulietti, A. M. (2021). "Nymphaeaceae do Brasil." SITIENTIBUS série Ciências Biológicas, 21. https://doi.org/10.13102/scb4986
10. Pott, V. J., Pott, A., Lima, L. C. P., Moreira, S. N., & Oliveira, A. K. (2011). "Aquatic macrophyte diversity of the Pantanal wetland and upper basin." Brazilian Journal of Biology, 71, 255-263.
11. Reinbold, Joan. (2023, November 13). Lentic & Lotic Ecosystems. sciencing.com. Retrieved from https://sciencing.com/lentic-lotic-ecosystems-7355077.html
12. Damasceno-Junior, G. A., & Pott, A. (2022). Flora and vegetation of the Pantanal Wetland. p. 241. Springer Nature. https://books.google.com/books?id=ZiFnEAAAQBAJ&dq=nymphaea%20oxypetala&pg=PA241
13. de Andrade Amador, G., Damasceno-Júnior, G. A., da Silva, R. H., Pott, A., & Pott, V. J. (2013). "Nymphaeaceae, Nymphaea belophylla Trickett: new state record." Check List, 9(2), 440-442.
14. Breukel, H. (n.d.). Nymphaea oxypetala Planchon. Seerosenforum.de Das Portal Der Seerose. Retrieved November 12, 2023, from https://www.seerosenforum.de/gattung/Hydrocallis/oxypetala/oxypetala.aspx