Nymphaea ampla explained

Nymphaea ampla, the dotleaf waterlily, is a species of flowering plant in the family Nymphaeaceae.^[1] It is native to Texas, Florida, Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean, and northern and western South America.^[2]

Cytology

The chromosome count is n = 14. The genome size is 772.62 Mb.^[3]

Cultural significance

Nymphaea ampla is widely represented in Mayan art, especially in its depictions with jaguars and Mayan kings. Its cultural importance can be seen in one of the Mayan names of the plant; nikte’ha’ ("vulva of the water") as it would have represented life, sexual activity, fertility, and birth. The plant causes opiate-like effects on the user and is known to have been used as a calmative and mild trance inducer.^[4]

Conservation

In Guadeloupe it has been classified as near threatened (NT) in the France red list.^[5]

Notes and References

1. Web site: Nymphaea ampla . . 13 July 2020 . Plant Database . Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center . 19 August 2022 .
2. 605494-1 . Nymphaea ampla (Salisb.) DC. . 19 August 2022 .
3. Chen, F., Liu, X., Yu, C., Chen, Y., Tang, H., & Zhang, L. (2017). "Water lilies as emerging models for Darwin’s abominable mystery." Horticulture research, 4.
4. Emboden, W.A. (1979) "Nymphaea ampla and Other Mayan Narcotic Plants." Mexicon 1:50–52.
5. Nymphaea ampla (Salisb.) DC., 1821. (n.d.). Inventaire National Du Patrimoine Naturel. Retrieved July 3, 2023, from https://inpn.mnhn.fr/espece/cd_nom/630229?lg=en