''Nymphaea novogranatensis'' is a species of waterlily native to Colombia, Mexico, and Venezuela.

Description

Vegetative characteristics

''Nymphaea novogranatensis'' is an aquatic herb with ovoid rhizomes, which are

stolon In biology, a stolon ( from Latin ''wikt:stolo, stolō'', genitive ''stolōnis'' – "branch"), also known as a runner, is a horizontal connection between parts of an organism. It may be part of the organism, or of its skeleton. Typically, animal ...

iferous in the initial growth phase. The broadly elliptic-ovate to suborbicular, subcoriaceous to skin-like, 24 cm long and 21 cm wide leaves have a green adaxial surface. Purple spotting occurs on younger foliage. The brownish purple abaxial leaf surface may also feature dark spotting.Wiersema, J. H. (1987). A monograph of ''Nymphaea'' subgenus ''Hydrocallis'' (Nymphaeaceae). Systematic Botany Monographs, 1-112. The glabrous, 5 mm wide petioles have 2-4 primary and 6-8 secondary air canals.

Generative characteristics

The nocturnal flowers either float on the water surface, or are slightly emergent.Wiersema, J. H. (1984). Systematics of ''Nymphaea'' subgenus ''Hydrocallis'' (Nymphaeaceae). I. Four New Species from the Neotropics. Brittonia, 36(3), 213–222. https://doi.org/10.2307/2806510 They are attached to the glabrous, 7.5 mm wide peduncle with 5, 6, 15, or 18 primary air canals. The flowers are slightly fragrant.

Cytology

The diploid chromosome count is 2n = 28.Loehne, C., Borsch, T., & Wiersema, J. H. (2007)
"Phylogenetic analysis of Nymphaeales using fast-evolving and noncoding chloroplast markers."
Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 154(2), 141-163.

Reproduction

Vegetative reproduction

The rhizomes of ''Nymphaea novogranatensis'' are stoloniferous in the initial growth phase. Proliferating pseudanthia are absent.

Generative reproduction

''Nymphaea novogranatensis'' depends on sexual reproduction. Contrary to other ''Nymphaea'' species, autogamous seed production is less fruitful. Therefore, it is more reliant on cross-pollination.

Taxonomy

It was first described by Wiersema in 1984.

Type specimen

The type specimen of ''Nymphaea novogranatensis'' was collected by from a small depression along the road by Wiersema and González in Guarico, Venezuela on the 31st of August 1981.

Placement within ''Nymphaea''

It is placed in ''Nymphaea'' subg. ''Hydrocallis''. It is closely related to ''

Nymphaea tenuinervia ''Nymphaea tenuinervia'' is a species of waterlily native to Colombia, Guyana and Brazil. Description Vegetative characteristics '' Nymphaea tenuinervia'' is an aquatic herb. The ovoid rhizome is stoloniferous throughout the vegetative period.Wi ...

''.

Etymology

The specific epithet ''novogranatensis'' is a

demonym A demonym (; ) or 'gentilic' () is a word that identifies a group of people ( inhabitants, residents, natives) in relation to a particular place. Demonyms are usually derived from the name of the place ( hamlet, village, town, city, region, ...

for Colombia, formerly called Nueva Granada.Fernández Casas, F. J. (2016). The genus ''Spigelia'' Linnaeus (1753). The origin of its scientific names. Biblioteca Digital. https://bibdigital.rjb.csic.es/idurl/1/1526302Mazza, G. (2018, September 17). ''Erythroxylum novogranatense''. Monaco Nature Encyclopedia. Retrieved December 25, 2023, from https://www.monaconatureencyclopedia.com/erythroxylum-novogranatense/?lang=en

Conservation

In Mexico, it is threatened with extinction.Comisión Nacional para el Conocimiento y Uso de la Biodiversidad (CONABIO). (n.d.). Ninfa del Istmo (''Nymphaea novogranatensis''). EncicloVida. Retrieved December 25, 2023, from https://enciclovida.mx/especies/166042-nymphaea-novogranatensisMODIFICACIÓN del Anexo Normativo III, Lista de especies en riesgo de la Norma Oficial Mexicana NOM-059-SEMARNAT-2010, Protección ambiental-Especies nativas de México de flora y fauna silvestres-Categorías de riesgo y especificaciones para su inclusión, exclusión o cambio-Lista de especies en riesgo, publicada el 30 de diciembre de 2010. (2010, December 30). Diario Oficial De La Federación. Retrieved December 25, 2023, from https://www.dof.gob.mx/nota_detalle.php?codigo=5578808&fecha=14/11/2019 ''Nymphaea novogranatensis'' is vulnerable to habitat loss resulting from human activities.

Ecology

Habitat

In Mexico, ''Nymphaea novogranatensis'' grows in temporary puddles found in low, open regions of thorny scrublands dominated by ''

Parkinsonia aculeata ''Parkinsonia aculeata'' is a species of perennial flowering tree in the pea family, Fabaceae. Common names include palo verde, Mexican palo verde, Parkinsonia, Jerusalem thorn, jelly bean tree, palo de rayo, and retama. Etymology The genus na ...

''. It occurs

sympatric In biology, two closely related species or populations are considered sympatric when they exist in the same geographic area and thus frequently encounter each other. An initially interbreeding population that splits into two or more distinct spe ...

ally with ''

Nymphaea amazonum ''Nymphaea'' () is a genus of hardy and tender aquatic plants in the family Nymphaeaceae. The genus has a cosmopolitan distribution. Many species are cultivated as ornamental plants, and many cultivars have been bred. Some taxa occur as introduc ...

'', '' Nymphaea jamesoniana'', and '' Nymphaea pulchella''.Alejandro Novelo, R., & Wiersema, J. H. (2000)
"Three new records of aquatic vascular plants in Mexico."
Acta Botanica Mexicana, (51), 53-60. It also occurs in flooded savannahs, lagoons, and puddles. It has a disjunct distribution.Mora-Olivo, A., Villaseñor, J. L., & Martínez, M. (2013)
"Las plantas vasculares acuáticas estrictas y su conservación en México."
Acta botánica mexicana, (103), 27-63.

Pollination

''Nymphaea novogranatensis'' is pollinated by beetles.Madriñán, S., Rial, A., Bedoya, A. M., Fernández, M. (2017).
"Plantas acuáticas de la Orinoquia colombiana."
p. 32. Kolumbien: Universidad de los Andes.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q15481701 novogranatensis Flora of Colombia Flora of Mexico Flora of Venezuela Flora of Southern America Plants described in 1984