Nymphaea georginae

Nymphaea georginae is a species of waterlily native to the Northern Territory, and the state of Queensland, Australia.

Description

Vegetative characteristics

Nymphaea georginae is a perennial plant with 4 cm wide, globose rhizomes. The orbicular to elliptic, 60 cm wide floating leaves have dentate margins.

Generative characteristics

The fragrant flowers can extend up to 30 cm above the water surface. The flowers have 4 sepals, and 12-26 petals. The androecium consists of 150-250 stamens. The gynoecium consists of 7-19 carpels. The 4 cm wide, globose fruit bears globose to subglobose, 2.5-4 mm wide seeds with interrupted rows of 0.1-0.15 mm long trichomes.
The flowers are the most fragrant flowers within Nymphaea subgenus Anecphya.

Taxonomy

Publication

It was first described by Surrey Wilfrid Laurance Jacobs and Carl Barre Hellquist in 2006.

Type specimen

The type specimen of Nymphaea georginae was collected by S. Jacobs and C. B. Hellquist in the Georgina River in Camooweal, Queensland, Australia on the 19th April 2005.

Placement within ''Nymphaea''

It is placed in Nymphaea subgenus Anecphya.

Etymology

The specific epithet georginae refers to the Georgina River, which is the type locality.

Conservation

The NCA status of Nymphaea georginae is Special Least Concern.

Ecology

Habitat

Nymphaea georginae grows in billabongs and flood channels, habitats characterised by prolonged periods of drought and equally extended wet periods.