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Nymphaea mexicana
Species of aquatic plant From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Nymphaea mexicana is a species of aquatic plant that is native to the Southern United States and Mexico as far south as Michoacán.[3][4] Common names include yellow water lily, Mexican water lily and banana water lily.
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Description
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Vegetative characteristics
Nymphaea mexicana is a rhizomatous,[5] aquatic,[6] perennial herb[7] with stoloniferous,[8][5] up to 30 cm long, and 4 cm wide rhizomes.[8] The rhizomes bear leaf and root scars.[9] The stolons are 15–100 cm long, and 0.5–1 cm wide.[10] The ovate, suborbicular,[9] or elliptic lamina is 7–18(–27) cm long, and 7–14(–18) cm wide.[5] The long, cylindrical petiole[9] is glabrous.[5]
Generative characteristics
The floating or emersed,[5] yellow, 6–13 cm wide flowers have peduncles with 4 primary air canals.[10] The flowers have four sepals[6] and 12-30 yellow petals.[5] The androeceum consists of 50 stamens.[8] The gynoecium consists of 7-10 carpels.[5] The spheroid or ovoid fruit bears 3–5 mm long, and 3–5 mm wide seeds[11] with hairlike papillae.[11][5] Tuberiferous flowers or proliferating pseudanthia can be present.[12]
Cytology
The chromosome count is n = 28. The genome size is 586.80 Mb.[13] The chloroplast genome is 159962 bp long.[14]
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Taxonomy
It was published by Joseph Gerhard Zuccarini in 1832.[9][2] Within the subgenus Nymphaea subg. Nymphaea[15] it is placed in the section Nymphaea sect. Xanthantha.[16][10]
Etymology
The specific epithet mexicana refers to Mexico.[6]
Hybridisation
Together with Nymphaea odorata, it forms the natural hybrid Nymphaea × thiona.[5]
Reproduction
Vegetative reproduction
Nymphaea mexicana reproduces vegetatively through stolons. Their structure, resembling bananas, consists of leaf buds and thick, starchy roots.[17] Additionally, tuberiferous flowers or proliferating pseudanthia can be present.[12]
Conservation
The NatureServe conservation status is Vulnerable (G3).[1]
Ecology
Habitat
It occurs in up to 4 m deep water[18] in lagoons, canals[19] swamps, and rivers.[20] It can occur in brackish water.[19]
Herbivory
The canvasback duck, Aythya valisineria, feeds on the banana-like roots of the plant.[21]
As an invasive species
Together with its hybrids, it has become an invasive species outside of its natural range.[22][23] For instance, it has been recorded in Australia,[8][20] South Africa,[22] New Zealand,[11][6] and the Iberian Peninsula.[24]
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References
External links
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