Nymphaea oxypetala
{{Short description|Species of water lily}}
{{Speciesbox
| image = The waterlilies (Plate 25) (7060883535).jpg
| image_caption = Botanical illustration of Nymphaea oxypetala
| genus = Nymphaea
| parent = Nymphaea subg. Hydrocallis
| species = oxypetala
| synonyms =
- Leuconymphaea oxypetala (Planch.) Kuntze
- Nymphaea raja Lehm.
| synonyms_ref = {{cite POWO |id=605655-1 |title=Nymphaea oxypetala Planch. |accessdate=12 November 2023}}
| range_map =
| range_map_caption =
}}
Nymphaea oxypetala is a species of waterlily native to Bolivia, Brazil, Cuba, Ecuador, Paraguay, and Venezuela. It is a remarkable species with excessively acuminate and
acute sepals and petals.[https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/27561607 "Flore des Serres et des Jardins de l'Europe 8: 120."] 1853. (Mar 1853)
Description
=Vegetative characteristics=
File:Sprouting Nymphaea oxypetala Planch. rhizome.jpg
Unlike most other waterlilies, this species rarely produces floating leaves. The strongly reduced floating leaves are only produced very rarely.Ritter, N. P., Crow, G. E., & Wiersema, J. H. (2001). [https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Nur-Ritter/publication/280020343_Nymphaea_Nymphaeaceae_in_Bolivia_Notes_on_several_species_including_three_country_records_and_a_key_to_all_species/links/55a3de4e08ae5e82ab1f223e/Nymphaea-Nymphaeaceae-in-Bolivia-Notes-on-several-species-including-three-country-records-and-a-key-to-all-species.pdf "Nymphaea (Nymphaeaceae) in Bolivia: notes on several species, three new country records, and a key to species."] Rhodora, 103(915), 326-331. 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. The broad submerged leaves display a likeness to the leaves of lettuce.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 The petioles are fragile and leaves break of easily.
=Generative characteristics=
Cytology
The chromosome count of this polyploid species is 6n = 84.Loehne, C., Borsch, T., & Wiersema, J. H. (2007). [https://academic.oup.com/botlinnean/article-abstract/154/2/141/2544424 "Phylogenetic analysis of Nymphaeales using fast-evolving and noncoding chloroplast markers."] Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 154(2), 141-163.
Reproduction
=Vegetative reproduction=
This species is likely not stoloniferous.Wiersema, J. H. (1987). A monograph of Nymphaea subgenus Hydrocallis (Nymphaeaceae). Systematic Botany Monographs, 1-112. Proliferating pseudanthia are also lacking in Nymphaea oxypetala.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
=Generative reproduction=
Ecology
=Habitat=
It is associated with lotic habitats,Pott, V. J., Pott, A., Lima, L. C. P., Moreira, S. N., & Oliveira, A. K. (2011). [https://www.scielo.br/j/bjb/a/LYj6V7LRVFw3H5RXHKFPHqL/?lang=en "Aquatic macrophyte diversity of the Pantanal wetland and upper basin."] Brazilian Journal of Biology, 71, 255-263. These aquatic habitats are defined by the presence of moving water.Reinbold, Joan. (2023, November 13). Lentic & Lotic Ecosystems. sciencing.com. Retrieved from https://sciencing.com/lentic-lotic-ecosystems-7355077.html It occurs in floodplains, river branches and in seasonal streams.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 In the Pantanal it occurs in the flooding area of the Paraguay River, Nabileque, Abobral and Poconé. 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.
Taxonomy
=Type specimen=
The type specimen was collected by W. Jameson in March 1845 in Ecuador near Guayaquil.Lima, C. T. de, Machado, I. C., & Giulietti, A. M. (2021). [https://periodicos.uefs.br/index.php/sitientibusBiologia/article/view/4986/5243 "Nymphaeaceae do Brasil."] SITIENTIBUS série Ciências Biológicas, 21. https://doi.org/10.13102/scb4986
=Placement within ''Nymphaea''=
Etymology
The specific epithet oxypetala refers to the pointed petals of this species.Pott, V. J. (1998). [https://www.scielo.br/j/abb/a/hgg9mcjBxL46cpGH3TWNCPf/?format=pdf&lang=pt "The Nymphaeaceae family in the Pantanal, Mato Grosso and Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil."] Acta Botanica Brasilica, 12, 183-194.
Conservation
Cultivation
It is kept as an aquarium plant, as well as in small containers of water.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 It is intolerant of cold, turbid and saline water and favours clear, slowly flowing freshwater.