Nymphaea maculata explained

Nymphaea maculata is a species of waterlily native to tropical Africa.[1]

Description

Vegetative characteristics

Nymphaea maculata is a submerged, perennial, aquatic herb[2] with subglobose rhizomes, and many long, filiform roots. The petiolate, ovate-cordate floating leaves have entire margins. The abaxial leaf surface is spotted. The green abaxial leaf surface with black spotting displays prominent, dichotomous, anastomosing venation.

Generative characteristics

The white, or blueish-white flowers are 3-8 cm wide. The flowers have four sepals, and 5-10 petals. The androecium consists of 30 stamens. The ovary is subglobose, and has 14 stigmatic rays. The carpels have slightly incurved teeth. The multilocular, rounded fruit bears numerous small, arillate,rounded seeds.[3]

Reproduction

Generative reproduction

Flowering occurs from February to March.[4]

Taxonomy

Publication

It was first described by Heinrich Christian Friedrich Schumacher and Peter Thonning in 1827.

Etymology

The specific epithet maculata means spotted.[5]

Conservation

In Benin, it is regarded as vulnerable (VU).[6] It will face changes in land use, and habitat fragmentation.[7]

Ecology

Habitat

It occurs in ponds, swamps,[8] [9] permanent spring pools,[10] acid, shallow, oligotrophic pools, and shallow pools in marshes with very dark waters.[11] It occurs sympatrically with Nymphaea lotus.

Use

The rhizome is edible,[12] and the fruits are eaten as well.[13] In Cameroon, Nymphaea maculata is an important melliferous plant for honey production.[14]

Notes and References

  1. 605613-1 . Nymphaea maculata Schumach. & Thonn. . 3 January 2024.
  2. Akobundu, I. O., Agyakwa, C. W. (1987). "A Handbook of West African Weeds." p. 60. Nigeria: International Institute of Tropical Agriculture.
  3. Schumacher, H. C. F. (1827). Beskrivelse af Guineeiske Planter som ere fundne af dankse Botanikere, især af Etatsraad Thonning. pp. 247-248. http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/openurl?ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft.date=1827&rft.spage=247&rft_id=http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/bibliography/51454&rft_val_fmt=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:book&url_ver=z39.88-2004
  4. https://www.google.de/books/edition/Phenology_and_Seasonality_Modeling/_ajtCAAAQBAJ?hl=de&gbpv=1&dq=%22Nymphaea%20maculata%22&pg=PA283&printsec=frontcover "Phenology and Seasonality Modeling."
  5. Doi, A. (2000). "Parasikukia maculata, a New Genus and New Species of Cyprinid Fish from Peninsular Thailand." Species Diversity, 5(4), 391-396.
  6. https://www.google.de/books/edition/Strat%C3%A9gie_nationale_et_plan_d_actions_d/VT38DwAAQBAJ?hl=de&gbpv=1&dq=%22Nymphaea%20maculata%22&pg=PA64&printsec=frontcover "Stratégie nationale et plan d’actions de gestion durable des écosystèmes de mangroves du Bénin."
  7. https://www.google.de/books/edition/Inventaire_floristique_et_faunique_des/Q91fDwAAQBAJ?hl=de&gbpv=1&dq=%22Nymphaea%20maculata%22&pg=PA53&printsec=frontcover "Inventaire floristique et faunique des écosystèmes de mangroves et des zones humides côtières du Bénin."
  8. https://www.google.de/books/edition/Ressources_naturelles_et_environnement_e/8jEYBgAAQBAJ?hl=de&gbpv=1&dq=%22Nymphaea%20maculata%22&pg=PA235&printsec=frontcover "Ressources naturelles et environnement en Afrique."
  9. Engler, A. (1925). "Die Pflanzenwelt Afrikas insbesondere seiner tropischen Gebiete: Grundzüge der Pflanzenverbreitung in Afrika und die Charakterpflanzen Afrikas." pp. 35, 180. Deutschland: W. Engelmann.
  10. https://www.google.de/books/edition/Mitteilungen_der_Botanischen_Staatssamml/yHZQAAAAYAAJ?hl=de&gbpv=1&bsq=%22Nymphaea%20maculata%22&dq=%22Nymphaea%20maculata%22&printsec=frontcover "Mitteilungen der Botanischen Staatssammlung München."
  11. Géhu, J. (2000). "Les données de la phytosociologie sigmatiste: structure, gestion, utilisation." pp. 371, 374. Deutschland: J. Cramer.
  12. Malaisse, F. (2010). "How to live and survive in Zambezian open forest (Miombo ecoregion)." p. 80. Belgien: Presses agronomiques de Gembloux.
  13. Hahn, K., Schmidt, M., & Thiombiano, A. (2018). "The use of wild plants for food: a national scale analysis for Burkina Faso (West Africa)." Flora et Vegetatio Sudano-Sambesica, 21, 25-33.
  14. Delphine, D. N., & Joseph, T. (2015). Palynological and physicochemical characterization of honey in the Sudano-Guinean zone of Cameroon. Food and Nutrition Sciences, 6(15), 1339.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Nymphaea maculata".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2024, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.