Nymphaea alexii

Nymphaea alexii is a species of waterlily endemic to Queensland, Australia.^[2]

Nymphaea alexii
Conservation status
Special Least Concern (NCA)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Order:	Nymphaeales
Family:	Nymphaeaceae
Genus:	Nymphaea
Subgenus:	Nymphaea subg. Anecphya
Species:	N. alexii
Binomial name
Nymphaea alexii S.W.L.Jacobs & Hellq.[2]
Nymphaea alexii is endemic to Queensland, Australia[2]

Description

Vegetative characteristics

Nymphaea alexii is an annual or perennial plant with 2 cm wide, globose rhizomes. The elliptic, 15 cm long, and 10 cm wide leaf blades have a slightly sinuate margin.^[3]

Generative characteristics

The fragrant flowers extend up to 30 cm above the water surface. The androecium consists of 150 stamens with 17 mm long membranous filaments. The gynoecium consists of 8-16 carpels. The apex of the ovary often displays red colouration. The 4.5 cm wide, globose fruit bears elongate, glabrous, longitudinally ridged, 1-2 mm long seeds.^[3]

Taxonomy

Publication

It was first described by Surrey Wilfrid Laurance Jacobs and Carl Barre Hellquist in 2006.^[2][4]

Type specimen

The type specimen was collected by Jacobs and Hellquist in Queensland, Australia on the 17th of April 2005.^[3]

Placement within Nymphaea

It is placed in Nymphaea subgenus Confluentes.^[3][5]

Etymology

Nymphaea alexii is named after Alex James Fussell, the grandson of Surrey Wilfrid Laurance Jacobs.^[3]

Conservation

The NCA status of Nymphaea alexii is Special Least Concern.^[1]

Ecology

Habitat

It occurs in shallow margins of lagoons, and in ephemeral billabongs.^[3]