Nymphaea pulchella

Nymphaea pulchella
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Order:	Nymphaeales
Family:	Nymphaeaceae
Genus:	Nymphaea
Species:	N. pulchella
Binomial name
	Nymphaea pulchella; DC.
Synonyms
	Castalia pulchella (DC.) Britton; Nymphaea ampla subsp. pulchella (DC.) Lovassy; Nymphaea ampla var. pulchella (DC.) Casp.; Nymphaea ampla var. hookeri Planch.; Nymphaea ampla var. salzmannii Planch.; Nymphaea ampla subsp. speciosa (Mart. & Zucc.) Lovassy; Nymphaea ampla var. speciosa (Mart. & Zucc.) Casp.; Nymphaea leiboldiana Lehm.; Nymphaea lineata A.St.-Hil.; Nymphaea nervosa Lehm.; Nymphaea speciosa Mart. & Zucc.; Nymphaea trisepala Gaudich.; Nymphaea tropaeolifolia Lehm.;

Nymphaea pulchella is a species of waterlily native to the regions spanning from Central and Southern Mexico to Brazil, as well as from the Bahamas to the Virgin Islands, including St. Croix.^[1]

Description

Vegetative characteristics

Nymphaea pulchella is an aquatic herb^[2] with cylindrical to subglobose tubers.^[3] The elliptic, suborbicular to orbicular leaves have a sinuate to dentate margin.^[4] The veins show minimal prominence on the abaxial leaf surface.^[5]

Generative characteristics

The diurnal flowers can extend up to 20 cm above the water surface.^[4] They are held up by glabrous, brownish, non-brittle peduncles with six primary central and 12-13 secondary peripheral air canals.^[3] The androecium consists of 43-80 stamens.^[3] The ellipsoid, smooth, hispid seeds have trichomes arranged in continuous longitudinal lines.^[4]

Reproduction

Vegetative reproduction

Proliferating pseudanthia are absent.^[3]^[4]

Generative reproduction

It is autogamous, but reproduction is more fruitful in the presence of pollinators.^[6] Flowering and fruiting occurs throughout the year. Generative reproduction is the main mode of reproduction.^[3]

Taxonomy

Publication

It was first described by Augustin Pyramus de Candolle in 1821.^[1]^[5]

Placement within Nymphaea

It is placed in Nymphaea subgenus Brachyceras.^[7]^[6]

Etymology

The specific epithet pulchella means "beautiful" or "pretty".^[8]^[9]

Conservation

In Puerto Rico, USA, it faces habitat destruction.^[10]

Ecology

Habitat

It occurs in freshwater habitats, such as lakes, ponds,^[11] lagoons,^[10] streams, and temporary puddles.^[2]

Pollination

The bee species Trigona spinipes is an effective pollinator of Nymphaea pulchella. In some cases, the bees coated in pollen fall into the stigmatic fluid and die.^[6]^[3] The flowers are also visited by the bee species Apis mellifera, as well as flies.^[3]

Herbivory

The bee species Trigona spinipes is florivorous, i.e. it consumes parts of the flowers of Nymphaea pulchella.^[6]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d "Nymphaea pulchella DC". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 19 July 2023.
^ ^a ^b Felix, C. D. M. P. (2019). "Etnobotânica, florística, e citogenética na Serra do Jatobá, no Cariri da Paraíba, nordeste do Brasil."
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g de Lima, C. T., Machado, I. C., & Giulietti, A. M. (2021). "Nymphaeaceae of Brasil." Sitientibus série Ciências Biológicas, 21.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Pellegrini, M. O. O. & Jardim Botânico do Rio de Janeiro. (n.d.-b). Nymphaea pulchella DC. Flora E Funga Do Brasil. Retrieved December 29, 2023, from https://floradobrasil.jbrj.gov.br/FB19912
^ ^a ^b "Regni vegetabilis systema naturale, sive ordines, genera et species plantarum secundum methodi naturalis normas digestarum et descriptarum." p. 51. (1821). Vereinigtes Königreich: (n.p.).
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e Chalegre, S. L., Domingos-Melo, A., de Lima, C. T., Giulietti, A. M., & Machado, I. C. (2020). Nymphaea pulchella (Nymphaeaceae) and Trigona spinipes (Apidae) interaction: From florivory to effective pollination in ponds surrounded by pasture. Aquatic Botany, 166, 103267.
^ Marquina, S., Bonilla-Barbosa, J., & Alvarez, L. (2005). "Comparative phytochemical analysis of four Mexican Nymphaea species." Phytochemistry, 66(8), 921-927.
^ Dictionary of Botanical Epithets. (n.d.). Retrieved December 29, 2023, from http://botanicalepithets.net/dictionary/dictionary.150.html
^ What do those botanical names mean - Rainyside.com. (n.d.). Retrieved December 29, 2023, from https://www.rainyside.com/resources/reference/latin.html
^ ^a ^b Woodbury, R. O. (1975). "Rare and Endangered Plants of Puerto Rico: A Committee Report." p. 61. USA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Soil Conservation Service.
^ Liogier, A. H., Martorell, L. F. (2000). "Flora of Puerto Rico and adjacent islands : a systematic synopsis." p. 58. Puerto Rico: Ed. de la Universidad.

[POWO,_2023-1] "Nymphaea pulchella DC". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 19 July 2023.

[Felix,_2019-2] Felix, C. D. M. P. (2019). "Etnobotânica, florística, e citogenética na Serra do Jatobá, no Cariri da Paraíba, nordeste do Brasil."

[de_Lima_et_al.,_2021-3] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g de Lima, C. T., Machado, I. C., & Giulietti, A. M. (2021). "Nymphaeaceae of Brasil." Sitientibus série Ciências Biológicas, 21.

[Flora_E_Funga_Do_Brasil-4] Pellegrini, M. O. O. & Jardim Botânico do Rio de Janeiro. (n.d.-b). Nymphaea pulchella DC. Flora E Funga Do Brasil. Retrieved December 29, 2023, from https://floradobrasil.jbrj.gov.br/FB19912

[de_Candolle,_1821-5] "Regni vegetabilis systema naturale, sive ordines, genera et species plantarum secundum methodi naturalis normas digestarum et descriptarum." p. 51. (1821). Vereinigtes Königreich: (n.p.).

[Chalegre_et_al.,_2020-6] Chalegre, S. L., Domingos-Melo, A., de Lima, C. T., Giulietti, A. M., & Machado, I. C. (2020). Nymphaea pulchella (Nymphaeaceae) and Trigona spinipes (Apidae) interaction: From florivory to effective pollination in ponds surrounded by pasture. Aquatic Botany, 166, 103267.

[Marquina_et_al.,_2005-7] Marquina, S., Bonilla-Barbosa, J., & Alvarez, L. (2005). "Comparative phytochemical analysis of four Mexican Nymphaea species." Phytochemistry, 66(8), 921-927.

[Dictionary_of_Botanical_Epithets-8] Dictionary of Botanical Epithets. (n.d.). Retrieved December 29, 2023, from http://botanicalepithets.net/dictionary/dictionary.150.html

[Rainyside-9] What do those botanical names mean - Rainyside.com. (n.d.). Retrieved December 29, 2023, from https://www.rainyside.com/resources/reference/latin.html

[Woodbury,_1975-10] Woodbury, R. O. (1975). "Rare and Endangered Plants of Puerto Rico: A Committee Report." p. 61. USA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Soil Conservation Service.

[Liogier_&_Martorell,_2000-11] Liogier, A. H., Martorell, L. F. (2000). "Flora of Puerto Rico and adjacent islands : a systematic synopsis." p. 58. Puerto Rico: Ed. de la Universidad.

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