Nymphaea nouchali var. petersiana

Nymphaea nouchali var. petersiana is a variety of the water lily species Nymphaea nouchali Burm.f. native to the region spanning from Tanzania to South Africa.[1]

Nymphaea nouchali var. petersiana
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Order: Nymphaeales
Family: Nymphaeaceae
Genus: Nymphaea
Species:
Variety:
N. n. var. petersiana
Trinomial name
Nymphaea nouchali var. petersiana
(Klotzsch) Verdc.[1]
Synonyms[1]
  • Nymphaea petersiana Klotzsch
  • Nymphaea calophylla Gilg

Description edit

Vegetative characteristics edit

Nymphaea nouchali var. petersiana is an aquatic, rhizomatous, perennial plant. The leaves are suborbicular to elliptic. The adaxial leaf surface is green and smooth, and the abaxial leaf surface is purple, red, or green with prominent venation.[2]

Generative characteristics edit

The 6-12 cm wide, blue, white, or pink flowers emerge above the water surface. The flowers have four petals, and 14-20 petals. The androecium consists of 100 stamens.[2]

Taxonomy edit

Publication edit

It was first described as Nymphaea petersiana Klotzsch by Johann Friedrich Klotzsch in 1861. Later, it was included in the species Nymphaea nouchali Burm.f. as the variety Nymphaea nouchali var. petersiana (Klotzsch) Verdc. published by Bernard Verdcourt in 1989.[1]

Etymology edit

The varietal name petersiana honours Wilhelm Peters (1815-1883).[2][3]

Ecology edit

Habitat edit

It occurs in pools, rivers, and lakes.[2]

Use edit

The rhizomes are eaten in Malawi.[4]

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d "Nymphaea nouchali var. petersiana (Klotzsch) Verdc". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 16 January 2024.
  2. ^ a b c d Flora of Mozambique: Species information: Nymphaea nouchali var. petersiana. (n.d.). Retrieved January 16, 2024, from https://www.mozambiqueflora.com/speciesdata/species.php?species_id=123470
  3. ^ Nymphaea petersiana | CasaBio. (n.d.). Retrieved January 16, 2024, from https://casabio.org/taxa/nymphaea-petersiana
  4. ^ Chawanje, C. M. (1998). Nutrient and Antinutrient Content of an Underexploited Malawian Water Tuber Nymphaea petersiana (Nyika). https://vtechworks.lib.vt.edu/bitstreams/a5f735df-712a-4635-9081-c1435e8fc550/download