Nymphaea macrosperma
{{Short description|Species of water lily}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}}
{{Speciesbox
|image = Nymphaeaceae Nymphaea macrosperma 1.jpg
|genus = Nymphaea
|parent = Nymphaea subg. Anecphya
|species = macrosperma
|authority = Merr. & L.M.Perry
|synonyms = *Nymphaea dictyophlebia Merr. & L.M.Perry
|synonyms_ref = {{cite POWO |id=605612-1 |title=Nymphaea macrosperma Merr. & L.M.Perry |accessdate=11 January 2024}}
|status = SL
|status_system = QLDNCA
}}
Nymphaea macrosperma is an aquatic annual or perennial flowering plant in the family Nymphaeaceae. It is native to Australia and New Guinea.Missouri Botanical Garden. (n.d.-f). Nymphaea macrosperma Merr. & L.M. Perry. Tropicos. Retrieved December 2, 2024, from http://legacy.tropicos.org/Name/50265123
Description
=Vegetative characteristics=
Nymphaea macrosperma is an aquatic annual or rhizomatous herbaceous perennial,Northern Territory Government. (n.d.). Nymphaea macrosperma Merr. & L.M.Perry. FloraNT. Retrieved December 2, 2024, from https://eflora.nt.gov.au/factsheet?id=3999 with rounded rhizomes that lack stolons.S.W.L. Jacobs & C.L. Porter. Nymphaea macrosperma, in (ed.), Flora of Australia. Australian Biological Resources Study, Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water: Canberra. https://profiles.ala.org.au/opus/foa/profile/Nymphaea%20macrosperma [Date Accessed: 03 December 2024] The glabrous, orbicular, elliptic or suborbicular leaves with a dentate margin are 17–38 cm long, and 15–31 cm wide. The abaxial leaf surface has a strong midrib and 6 palmately arranged primary veins, which are reticulate towards the leaf margin. The petioles are up to 2.5 m long, and 2-4 mm wide.
=Generative characteristics=
The 6–7 cm wide, diurnal flowers extend above the water surface.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 The four oblong sepals with a rounded apex are 25-55 mm long, and 9-25 mm wide. The 10–18(–22) white, blue, or purple, oblanceolate to spathulate petals have an obtuse apex. There is a conspicuous gap between petals and stamens. The androecium consists of 150–200 stamens. The gynoecium consists of 10–13 carpels. The 4 cm wide fruit bears oblong to ovoid, hairy, 3–4.5 mm long, and 2–3 mm wide seeds.
Taxonomy
=Publication=
It was published by Elmer Drew Merrill and Lily May Perry in 1942.Merrill, Elmer D., & Perry, Lily M. (1942). [https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/8373745 Plantae Papuanae Archboldianae, X.] Journal of the Arnold Arboretum, 23(4), 383--416. https://doi.org/10.5962/p.185463 In the same publication, the species was described a second time as Nymphaea dictyophlebia {{small|Merr. & L.M.Perry}}, which is a synonym of Nymphaea macrosperma {{small|Merr. & L.M.Perry}}.Jacobs, S. W. L. (1992). [https://scholar.archive.org/work/5ag6ssqoznhm7kxh43mcbjpx4q/access/wayback/http://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/emuwebnswlive/objects/common/webmedia.php?irn=75778&reftable=ebibliography "New species, lectotypes and synonyms of Australasian Nymphaea (Nymphaeaceae)."] Telopea, 4(4), 635-641.
=Type specimen=
The type specimen was collected by LJ Brass in Lake Daviumbu, New Guinea (British New Guinea) in August 1936.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
=Position within ''Nymphaea''=
It is placed in Nymphaea subgenus Anecphya.Löhne, C., Borsch, T., Jacobs, S. W., Hellquist, C. B., & Wiersema, J. H. (2008). [https://www.academia.edu/download/51262689/Nuclear_and_plastid_DNA_sequences_reveal20170109-8144-1bdf84s.pdf "Nuclear and plastid DNA sequences reveal complex reticulate patterns in Australian water-lilies (Nymphaea subgenus Anecphya, Nymphaeaceae)."] Australian Systematic Botany, 21(4), 229-250.
Etymology
The specific epithet macrosperma means large-seeded.Crataegus macrosperma (large-seeded hawthorn): Go Botany. (n.d.). Native Plant Trust. Retrieved February 1, 2024, from https://gobotany.nativeplanttrust.org/species/crataegus/macrosperma/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
Ecology
=Habitat=
Conservation
The NCA status of Nymphaea macrosperma is Special Least Concern (SL). Under the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016, it is classified as Not threatened.Western Australian Herbarium & Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions. (n.d.-b). Nymphaea macrosperma Merr. & L.M.Perry. Florabase—the Western Australian Flora. Retrieved December 2, 2024, from https://florabase.dbca.wa.gov.au/browse/profile/19830
Uses
The plant is a traditional Aboriginal bushfood.[http://www.foodstandards.gov.au/monitoringandsurveillance/nuttab2006/onlineversionintroduction/onlineversion.cfm?&action=getFood&foodID=15A10182 Australian Food Standards, Water lily seed pod analysis] The seeds are usually described as "sweet like a pea" and are eaten for lunch.{{cite episode
| title = Part 1
| series = In the Bush with Malcolm Douglas
| airdate = 2009-02-07
| season = 1}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q7071188|from2=Q17253180}}
Category:Angiosperms of Western Australia
Category:Flora of the Northern Territory
Category:Taxa named by Elmer Drew Merrill
Category:Taxa named by Lily May Perry
Category:Plants described in 1942
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