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Nymphaea pulchella

Species of water lily From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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Nymphaea pulchella is a species of waterlily native to the regions spanning from Central and Southern Mexico to Brazil, as well as from the Bahamas to the Virgin Islands, including St. Croix.[1]

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Description

Vegetative characteristics

Nymphaea pulchella is an aquatic herb[2] with cylindrical to subglobose tubers.[3] The elliptic, suborbicular to orbicular leaves have a sinuate to dentate margin.[4] The veins show minimal prominence on the abaxial leaf surface.[5]

Generative characteristics

The diurnal flowers can extend up to 20 cm above the water surface.[4] They are held up by glabrous, brownish, non-brittle peduncles with six primary central and 12-13 secondary peripheral air canals.[3] The androecium consists of 43-80 stamens.[3] The ellipsoid, smooth, hispid seeds have trichomes arranged in continuous longitudinal lines.[4]

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Reproduction

Vegetative reproduction

Proliferating pseudanthia are absent.[3][4]

Generative reproduction

It is autogamous, but reproduction is more fruitful in the presence of pollinators.[6] Flowering and fruiting occurs throughout the year. Generative reproduction is the main mode of reproduction.[3]

Taxonomy

Publication

It was first described by Augustin Pyramus de Candolle in 1821.[1][5]

Placement within Nymphaea

It is placed in Nymphaea subgenus Brachyceras.[7][6]

Etymology

The specific epithet pulchella means "beautiful" or "pretty".[8][9]

Conservation

In Puerto Rico, USA, it faces habitat destruction.[10]

Ecology

Thumb
Trigona spinipes an effective pollinator of Nymphaea pulchella[6]

Habitat

It occurs in freshwater habitats, such as lakes, ponds,[11] lagoons,[10] streams, and temporary puddles.[2]

Pollination

The bee species Trigona spinipes is an effective pollinator of Nymphaea pulchella. In some cases, the bees coated in pollen fall into the stigmatic fluid and die.[6][3] The flowers are also visited by the bee species Apis mellifera, as well as flies.[3]

Herbivory

The bee species Trigona spinipes is florivorous, i.e. it consumes parts of the flowers of Nymphaea pulchella.[6]

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References

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