Nymphaea sulphurea

Nymphaea sulphurea is a species of waterlily native to Angola, Zambia, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.^[2]

Nymphaea sulphurea
Botanical illustration of Nymphaea sulphurea in the publication "The waterlilies: a monograph of the genus Nymphaea" by Henry Shoemaker Conard
Conservation status
Data Deficient  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Order:	Nymphaeales
Family:	Nymphaeaceae
Genus:	Nymphaea
Subgenus:	Nymphaea subg. Brachyceras
Species:	N. sulphurea
Binomial name
Nymphaea sulphurea Gilg[2]
Synonyms[2]
Nymphaea primulina Hutch.

Description

Vegetative characteristics

Nymphaea sulphurea has stout, cone-shaped rhizomes. The suborbicular to broadly ovate, petiolate,^[3] 4.5-5.5 cm long leaves^[4] have an entire margin. The petioles are 38–46 cm long.^[3]

Generative characteristics

The flowers are 4.5–7 cm wide. The lanceolate sepals with acute apex^[3] are 2–3 cm long, and 1.5–1 cm wide. The dark sulphur yellow petals are 2.8–2 cm long, and 1.2-0.7 cm wide.^[4] The androecium consists of 40-50 stamens with bright yellow anthers. The gynoecium consists of 12-14 carpels.^[3]

Taxonomy

Publication

It was first described by Ernest Friedrich Gilg in 1903.^[2]

Type specimen

The type specimen was collected by Hugo Baum in Minnesera on 17 January 1900.^[3]

Etymology

The specific epithet sulphurea, from the Latin sulphureus, means yellow,^[5][6] and refers to the floral colouration.

Conservation

The IUCN conservation status is Data Deficient (DD).^[1]

Ecology

Habitat

Nymphaea sulphurea occurs in rivers, lakes, pools, and in deep waters.^[1]