Nymphaea mexicana Zucc. stolon with scale bar (3 cm) on a white backgroundUpper leaf surfaceLongitudinally cut rhizomeA close-up of the flower
Vegetative characteristics
Nymphaea mexicana is a rhizomatous,[5] aquatic,[6] perennial herb[7] with stoloniferous,[8][5] up to 30 cm long, and 4 cm wide rhizomes.[8] The rhizomes bear leaf and root scars.[9] The stolons are 15–100 cm long, and 0.5–1 cm wide.[10] The ovate, suborbicular,[9] or elliptic lamina is 7–18(–27) cm long, and 7–14(–18) cm wide.[5] The long, cylindrical petiole[9] is glabrous.[5]
Generative characteristics
The floating or emersed,[5] yellow, 6–13 cm wide flowers have peduncles with 4 primary air canals.[10] The flowers have four sepals[6] and 12-30 yellow petals.[5] The androeceum consists of 50 stamens.[8] The gynoecium consists of 7-10 carpels.[5] The spheroid or ovoid fruit bears 3–5 mm long, and 3–5 mm wide seeds[11] with hairlike papillae.[11][5] Tuberiferous flowers or proliferating pseudanthia can be present.[12]
The specific epithet mexicana refers to Mexico.[6]
Cytology
The chromosome count is n = 28. The genome size is 586.80 Mb.[15] The chloroplast genome is 159962 bp long.[16]
Reproduction
Vegetative reproduction
Nymphaea mexicana reproduces vegetatively through stolons. Their structure, resembling bananas, consists of leaf buds and thick, starchy roots.[17] Additionally, tuberiferous flowers or proliferating pseudanthia can be present.[12]
It occurs in up to 4 m deep water[18] in lagoons, canals[19] swamps, and rivers.[20] It can occur in brackish water.[19]
Herbivory
The canvasback duck, Aythya valisineria, feeds on the banana-like roots of the plant.[21]
As an invasive species
Together with its hybrids, it has become an invasive species outside of its natural range.[22][23] For instance, it has been recorded in Australia,[8][20] South Africa,[22] and New Zealand.[11][6]
^ abcdKöniglich Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften. & Königlich Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften. (1832). Abhandlungen der Mathematisch-Physikalischen Klasse der Königlich Bayerischen Akademie der Wissenschaften (Vol. 1, p. 365). https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/11355625
^Wiersema, J. H. (1988). Reproductive Biology of Nymphaea (Nymphaeaceae). Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden, 75(3), 795–804. https://doi.org/10.2307/2399367
^S.W.L. Jacobs & C.L. Porter. Nymphaea mexicana, in (ed.), Flora of Australia. Australian Biological Resources Study, Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water: Canberra. https://profiles.ala.org.au/opus/foa/profile/Nymphaea%20mexicana [Date Accessed: 04 December 2024]
^ abAlabama Herbarium Consortium & University of West Alabama. (n.d.). Nymphaea mexicana. Alabama Plant Atlas. Retrieved December 3, 2024, from http://floraofalabama.org/Plant.aspx?id=2705
^ abWestern Australian Herbarium & Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions. (n.d.-c). Nymphaea mexicana Zucc. Florabase—the Western Australian Flora. Retrieved December 3, 2024, from https://florabase.dbca.wa.gov.au/browse/profile/2922
.jpg)
_1200.jpg)
