Nymphaea macrosperma
Nymphaea macrosperma is an aquatic annual or perennial flowering plant in the family Nymphaeaceae. It is native to Australia and New Guinea.
Description
Nymphaea macrosperma is an aquatic annual or rhizomatous herbaceous perennial, with rounded rhizomes that lack stolons. The glabrous, orbicular, elliptic or suborbicular leaves with a dentate margin are 17–38 cm long, and 15–31 cm wide. The abaxial leaf surface has a strong midrib and 6 palmately arranged primary veins, which are reticulate towards the leaf margin. The petioles are up to 2.5 m long, and 2-4 mm wide.
Generative characteristics
The 6–7 cm wide, diurnal flowers extend above the water surface. The four oblong sepals with a rounded apex are 25-55 mm long, and 9-25 mm wide. The 10–18 white, blue, or purple, oblanceolate to spathulate petals have an obtuse apex. There is a conspicuous gap between petals and stamens. The androecium consists of 150–200 stamens. The gynoecium consists of 10–13 carpels. The 4 cm wide fruit bears oblong to ovoid, hairy, 3–4.5 mm long, and 2–3 mm wide seeds.
Taxonomy
Publication
It was published by Elmer Drew Merrill and Lily May Perry in 1942. In the same publication, the species was described a second time as Nymphaea dictyophlebia, which is a synonym of Nymphaea macrosperma.
Type specimen
The type specimen was collected by LJ Brass in Lake Daviumbu, New Guinea in August 1936.
Position within ''Nymphaea''
It is placed in Nymphaea subgenus Anecphya.
Etymology
The specific epithet macrosperma means large-seeded.
Ecology
Habitat
It occurs in up to 2.5 m deep stagnant or flowing water in lagoons, swamps, billabongs, and drainage channels on clay substrates. It can occur in slightly brackish water.
Conservation
The NCA status of Nymphaea macrosperma is Special Least Concern. Under the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016, it is classified as Not threatened.
Uses
The plant is a traditional Aboriginal bushfood. The seeds are usually described as "sweet like a pea" and are eaten for lunch.