Nymphaea subg. Nymphaea explained

Nymphaea subg. Nymphaea is a subgenus of the genus Nymphaea.

Description

Vegetative characteristics

Species of Nymphaea subg. Nymphaea have horizontal or vertical rhizomes. The leaf margins are entire, sinuate or crenate, but never dentate.

Generative characteristics

The diurnal flowers float on the water surface. The outer stamens have petaloid filaments.^[1] The stamens do not have a sterile appendage at the apex. The carpellary styles are ligulate. The petals are predominantly white, but pink, red, and yellow colouration occurs as well. The large seeds have a smooth surface.

Taxonomy

Type species

The type species is Nymphaea alba L.^[2]

Species

• Nymphaea alba
• Nymphaea candida
• Nymphaea leibergii
• Nymphaea loriana
• Nymphaea mexicana
• Nymphaea odorata
• Nymphaea tetragona

Distribution

Nymphaea subg. Nymphaea occurs in the temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere.^{[3] [4]}

Notes and References

1. Wood, Carroll E. (1959). The Genera of the Nymphaeaceae and Ceratophyllaceae in the Southeastern United States. Journal of the Arnold Arboretum, 40, 94–112. Retrieved from https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/part/324659
2. null. Nymphaea subg. Nymphaea, in (ed.), Flora of Australia. Australian Biological Resources Study, Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water: Canberra. https://profiles.ala.org.au/opus/foa/profile/Nymphaea%20subg.%20Nymphaea [Date Accessed: 24 January 2024]
3. Borsch, T., Hilu, K. W., Wiersema, J. H., Löhne, C., Barthlott, W., & Wilde, V. (2007). "Phylogeny of Nymphaea (Nymphaeaceae): evidence from substitutions and microstructural changes in the chloroplast trnT-trnF region." International Journal of Plant Sciences, 168(5), 639-671.
4. Flora of New Zealand | Taxon Profile | Nymphaea. (n.d.). Retrieved February 3, 2024, from https://www.nzflora.info/factsheet/taxon/Nymphaea.html