Nymphaea lotus L.

Nymphaeaceae, B. Verdcourt. Flora of Tropical East Africa. 1989

Morphology General Habit

Robust aquatic herb with tuberous rhizome; tubers ovoid, roughened with leaf-scars (fide Muschler).

Morphology Leaves

Leaves green above, often blotched reddish, purplish green or bronze beneath, ± round, 10–32(–50) cm. long, 11–28(–50) cm. wide, incised-cordate at the base, slightly peltate, the lobes touching or slightly overlapping, repand and dentate-mucronate at the margin, the sharp and often brown-tipped teeth formed by the convergence of (2–)3 nerves, very rarely some juvenile leaves entire, ± coriaceous, smooth above, prominently nerved to the edge, beneath with 7–9 primary lateral nerves on each side forking dichotomously 3–4 times and an equal number of secondary lateral nerves, glabrous, puberulous or distinctly to densely pubescent beneath.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers (6–)10–18(–25 fide Muschler) cm. wide, open on 4 successive nights from 7.30 p.m. to 11 a.m. (fide Muschler) 8 a.m. (fide Jex-Blake) or during the day (in S. Africa fide Obermeyer), held ± 15 cm. above the water-level; peduncle stout, glabrous or puberulous.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Sepals 4, green, often with cream veins, ovate-oblong to oblong-lanceolate, 4.5–9(–11) cm. long, 2–3.5 cm. wide, obtuse.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Petals ± 16–20, white or slightly yellowish, oblong to oblong-lanceolate, the outermost as long as the sepals, often with median green line outside, rounded or ± acute at the apex.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Stamens yellow, 40–80(–90); anthers obtuse, usually practically without a connective-appendage or sometimes up to ± 3 mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Carpels

Carpels 20–30, yellowish, sometimes crimson outside; stylar processes yellow, tinged purple-brown, 7–10 mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruit depressed-globose, 4–9 cm. diameter.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds ellipsoid, 1.2–1.45 mm. long, 1.1 mm. wide, with longitudinal lines of hairs.

Figures

Fig. 1/8,9, p. 8.

Habitat

Sheltered water 0.5–2.5 m. deep, also swamps; 0–1200 m.

Distribution

Egypt and widespread in tropical Africa to S. Africa and Madagascar, also in Europe (hot springs in NW. Roumania), Hungary (probably introduced)? a variety in Australiaknown from Tertiary deposits in Roumaniawidely cultivated (see note) in U.S.A. (Florida and Louisiana), Guyana, Panama, Venezuela, Colombia and Brasil K1 K3 K5 K6 K7 P T1 T2 T3 T4 T6 T7 T8 U1

Bernal, R., Gradstein, S.R. & Celis, M. (eds.). 2015. Catálogo de plantas y líquenes de Colombia. Instituto de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá. http://catalogoplantasdecolombia.unal.edu.co

Distribution

Cultivada en Colombia; Alt. 110 - 1600 m.; Andes, Pacífico, Valle del Magdalena.

Morphology General Habit

Hierba, acuática

Extinction risk predictions for the world's flowering plants to support their conservation (2024). Bachman, S.P., Brown, M.J.M., Leão, T.C.C., Lughadha, E.N., Walker, B.E. https://nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/nph.19592

Conservation

Predicted extinction risk: not threatened. Confidence: confident

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/164281/1038562

Conservation

LC - least concern

M. Thulin et al. Flora of Somalia, Vol. 1-4 [updated 2008] https://plants.jstor.org/collection/FLOS

Morphology Leaves

Leaves ± round, 10–32(–50) x 11–28(–50) cm, slightly peltate, green above, often ± reddish or purplish beneath, basal lobes touching or slightly overlapping, dentate-mucronate with sharp and often brown-tipped teeth at the margins, glabrous or pubescent beneath

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Flowers usually 10–18 cm wide, held above the water

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Sepals green, 4.5–9(–11) x 2–3.5 cm, obtuse

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Petals c. 16–20, white or cream, the outermost as long as the sepals

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Stamens yellow, 40–80(–90); anthers without or sometimes with a broad up to 3 mm long connective-appendage

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Carpels

Carpels 20–30; stylar processes yellowish, 7–10 mm long

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruit depressed-globose, 4–9 cm in diam.

Distribution

S1–3 widespread in tropical and southern Africa, Madagascar, also in Europe; widely cultivated.

Ecology

Altitude range 0–200 m.

Vernacular

Bocore, mungin (Somali).

Distribution

Biogeografic region: Andean, Pacific. Elevation range: 110–1600 m a.s.l. Cultivated in Colombia. Naturalised in Colombia. Colombian departments: Antioquia, Cundinamarca, Huila.

Habit

Herb, Aquatic.

Conservation

IUCN Red List Assessment (2021): LC.

Ecology

Habitat according IUCN Habitats Classification: forest and woodland, savanna, shrubland, artificial - terrestrial.

Nymphaeaceae, Hutchinson and Dalziel. Flora of West Tropical Africa 1:1. 1954

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Petals white; flowers open from early evening until late morning.