Nymphaea gracilis

Nymphaea gracilis is a species of waterlily endemic to Mexico.^[1] It is the only species of its genus which is endemic to Mexico.^[2]

Nymphaea gracilis
Nymphaea gracilis as Nymphaea flavovirens
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Order:	Nymphaeales
Family:	Nymphaeaceae
Genus:	Nymphaea
Subgenus:	Nymphaea subg. Brachyceras
Species:	N. gracilis
Binomial name
Nymphaea gracilis Zucc.[1]
Nymphaea gracilis is endemic to Mexico[1]
Synonyms[1]
Castalia gracilis (Zucc.) Rose Leuconymphaea gracilis (Zucc.) Kuntze Castalia flavovirens (Lehm.) Knowlt. Leuconymphaea tussilagifolia (Lehm.) Kuntze Leuconymphaea undulata (Lehm.) Kuntze Nymphaea flavovirens Lehm. Nymphaea tussilagifolia Lehm. Nymphaea undulata Lehm.

Description

Vegetative characteristics

Nymphaea gracilis has very short, subglobose rhizomes densely covered with fibrous roots. The petiolate, glabrous, orbicular floating leaves^[3] with dentate margins are 35–40 cm long, and 28–35 cm wide.^[4] The adaxial leaf surface is bright green, and the abaxial leaf surface is suffused with purple colouration.^[3] The terete, 1.2 cm wide petiole is 60–150 cm long.^[5]

Generative characteristics

The flowers are 8–10 cm wide,^[4] and extend up to 20–40 cm above the water surface. They have four lanceolate, green sepals and 18-20 white sepals. The androecium consists of 60 stamens.^[2] The gynoecium consists of 12-15 carpels.^[5] The globose 2–3.5 cm wide fruit bears arillate seeds with a reticulate testa, and trichomes.^[2] The flowers are fragrant.^[2]

Cytology

Generative reproduction

Nymphaea gracilis is facultatively xenogamous.^[6]

Taxonomy

Publication

It was first described by Joseph Gerhard Zuccarini in 1832.^[1][7]

Placement within Nymphaea

It is placed in Nymphaea subgenus Brachyceras.^[8]

Etymology

The specific epithet gracilis means thin, slender or graceful.^[9][10][11]

Conservation

It is considered to be in danger of extinction.^[12][13][2]

Ecology

Habitat

It grows in canals,^[14] swamps, shallow ponds, dams, and lakes.^[12]

Pollination

The three most important pollinators of Nymphaea gracilis^[6]

Apis mellifera

Allograpta obliqua

A member of the genus Asemosyrphus (Asemosyrphus polygrammus)

The flowers attract flies and bees. The bee species Apis mellifera is the most important pollinator of Nymphaea gracilis, followed by the fly species Allograpta obliqua, and Asemosyrphus sp.^[6]

Use

The rhizomes are eaten both by humans and livestock.^[12][2]

Cultivation

Flower of a hybrid of Nymphaea nouchali var. caerulea and Nymphaea gracilis

It has been used in artificial hybridisation to create new waterlily cultivars.^[15]