Nymphaea × helvola
Nymphaea × helvola is an artificial waterlily hybrid of Nymphaea mexicana with Nymphaea tetragona or Nymphaea pygmaea, which has been naturalised in India.
Description
Nymphaea × helvola is a rhizomatous, perennial, aquatic herb. The small, dark green, oval to orbiculate leaf with an entire margin is 5–12 cm long, and 7 cm wide. The leaf displays brown to red marbling and spotting.
The small, yellow, fragrant, 3–4 cm wide flowers float on the water surface. The sepals are green on the abaxial surface and yellow on the adaxial surface. The flowers have 16–19 lanceolate, 2 cm long, and 1 cm wide petals. The stamens are yellow.
Taxonomy
It was described by Maurice de Vilmorin in 1891. It is placed in the subgenus Nymphaea subg. Nymphaea.
Etymology
The hybrid name helvola means pale yellow. The flowers are pale yellow.
Hybridisation
It is a hybrid of Nymphaea mexicana with Nymphaea tetragona or Nymphaea pygmaea.
Distribution
It has been naturalised in Tam Dil, Mizoram, India.
Cultivation
It is cultivated in small ponds, small water gardens, and aquaria in shallow, 20–25 cm deep water.