Nuphar orbiculata explained

Nuphar orbiculata is a species of rhizomatous aquatic plant native to the US-American states Alabama, Florida, and Georgia.^[1]

Description

Vegetative characteristics

Nuphar orbiculata is a herbaceous, perennial, aquatic plant.^[2] The rhizomes are 7-8 cm wide.^[3] The petiolate, bright green, orbicular leaves are 20-45 cm long, and 20-45 cm wide. The abaxial surface is pubescent. The petioles are pubescent.

Generative characteristics

The flowers are 6 cm wide. The oblong-obovate sepals are 5 cm long. The stigmatic disk is 2 cm wide. The subglobose, 4-5 cm wide fruit bears ovoid, 4.5 mm long, ridged seeds.

Reproduction

Generative reproduction

Flowering and fruiting occurs in July.

Taxonomy

Publication

It was first described as Nymphaea orbiculata Small by John Kunkel Small in 1896. Later, it was included in the genus Nuphar Sm. as Nuphar orbiculata (Small) Standl. published by Paul Carpenter Standley in 1931.

Etymology

The specific epithet orbiculata means round or disc-shaped.^{[4] [5] [6]}

Conservation

It is vulnerable.^[7]

Ecology

Habitat

It occurs in stagnant waters of blackwater rivers, streams, lakes, and acidic lime sink ponds.^[8]

Notes and References

1. 171088-2 . Nuphar orbiculata (Small) Standl. . 19 January 2024.
2. Small, J. K. (1896). Studies in the Botany of the Southeastern United States.-V. Bulletin of the Torrey Botanical Club, 23(4). http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/openurl?ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_id=http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/711509&rft_val_fmt=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:book&url_ver=z39.88-2004
3. Nuphar orbiculata in Flora of North America @ efloras.org. (n.d.). Retrieved January 19, 2024, from http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=233500816
4. Burnham, R. J. (2013, May 29). Celastrus orbiculatus | CLIMBERS. Retrieved January 19, 2024, from https://climbers.lsa.umich.edu/celastrus-orbiculatus/
5. Cotyledon orbiculata | PlantZAfrica. (n.d.). Retrieved January 19, 2024, from https://pza.sanbi.org/cotyledon-orbiculata
6. Bayton, R. (2020). Practical Uses of Botanical Latin. In The Gardener's Botanical: An Encyclopedia of Latin Plant Names - with More than 5,000 Entries (pp. 22-318). Princeton: Princeton University Press. https://doi.org/10.1515/9780691209135-007
7. Nuphar orbiculata Aquatic Vegetation. (n.d.). NatureServe. Retrieved January 19, 2024, from https://explorer.natureserve.org/Taxon/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.688105/Nuphar_orbiculata_Aquatic_Vegetation
8. Nuphar orbiculata - Species Page - APA: Alabama Plant Atlas. (n.d.). Retrieved January 19, 2024, from http://www.floraofalabama.org/Plant.aspx?id=2703