''Nymphaea rubra'' is a species of waterlily native to the region spanning from Sri Lanka and northeastern India to western and central Malesia. Additionally, it has been introduced to regions such as Southeast China, Cuba, Guyana, Hungary, and Suriname.

Description

Vegetative characteristics

''Nymphaea rubra'' has 15.1 cm long, and 7.9 cm wide rhizomes. The petiolate, orbicular leaves are 25–48 cm wide. The adaxial leaf surface is bronzy red to dark green, and the abaxial leaf surface is dark purple. The leaf venation is very prominent. The petiole is 140 cm long.

Generative characteristics

The flowers are 15–25 cm wide. The four purplish-red sepals are oblong to lanceolate. The 12-20 narrowly oval petals have a rounded apex. The androecium consists of 55 red stamens. The gynoecium consists of 16-21 carpels. The fruit bears 1.85 mm long, and 1.6 mm wide seeds.Conard, H. S. (2015). The Waterlilies: A Monograph of the Genus ''Nymphaea'' (Classic Reprint). pp. 199-200. USA: FB&C Limited. The peduncle is 116 cm long. The flowers are pleasantly fragrant.

Cytology

The diploid chromosome count is 2n = 56..

Reproduction

Vegetative reproduction

One case of the development of a proliferating pseudanthia has been reported for a ''Nymphaea rubra'' specimen cultivated in the Botanical Garden of the University of Heidelberg, Germany in 1886.Franz Bleisch. (1886)
"Abnorme Blüte von ''Nymphaea rubra''."
Deutsches Magazin Für Garten- Und Blumenkunde, 39, 326. It is stoloniferous, but in rare cases it can also reproduce through proliferating pseudanthia.Mitra RL (1990) Nymphaeaceae. In: Nayar MP, Thothathri K, Sanjappa M (eds
Fascicles of flora of India, Fascicles 20.
Botanical Survey of India, Kolkata, pp. 20–21.

Generative reproduction

''Nymphaea rubra'' may reproduce

apomictic In botany, apomixis is asexual reproduction, asexual development of seed or embryo without Fertilisation, fertilization. However, other definitions include replacement of the seed by a plantlet or replacement of the flower by bulbils. Apomictic ...

ally.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

Taxonomy

Publication

It was first named by

William Roxburgh William Roxburgh FRSE FRCPE Linnean Society of London, FLS (3/29 June 1751 – 18 February 1815) was a Scottish people, Scottish surgeon and botanist who worked extensively in India, describing species and working on economic botany. He is known ...

, but only later validly published by

Henry Cranke Andrews Henry Cranke Andrews (c. 1759 – 1835, floruit, fl. 1794 – 1830), was an English botanist, botanical artist and engraver. As he always published as Henry C. Andrews, and due to difficulty finding records, the C. was often referred to as Cha ...

in 1808. Its status is uncertain and it may be of hybrid origin.

Placement within ''Nymphaea''

It is placed in ''Nymphaea'' subg. ''Lotos''.Löhne, C., Yoo, M. J., Borsch, T., Wiersema, J., Wilde, V., Bell, C. D., ... & Soltis, P. S. (2008)
Biogeography of Nymphaeales: extant patterns and historical events.
Taxon, 57(4), 1123-19E.

Etymology

The specific epithet ''rubra'' means "red".Dictionary of Botanical Epithets. (n.d.-b). Retrieved January 4, 2024, from https://botanicalepithets.net/dictionary/dictionary.159.html

Conservation

The

IUCN The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) is an international organization working in the field of nature conservation and sustainable use of natural resources. Founded in 1948, IUCN has become the global authority on the status ...

conservation status is Least Concern (LC).

Ecology

Habitat

It occurs in rivers, lakes, and ponds.''Nymphaea rubra'' Roxb. ex Salisb. (n.d.). India Biodiversity Portal. Retrieved January 4, 2024, from https://indiabiodiversity.org/species/show/230505

Use

The peduncles, and seeds are used as food.

Cultivation

It is suitable for the cultivation in aquaria.''Nymphaea rubra'' - Rote Seerose. (n.d.). Flowgrow. Retrieved January 4, 2024, from https://www.flowgrow.de/db/wasserpflanzen/nymphaea-rubra

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q13059511 rubra Flora of Assam (region) Flora of India (region) Flora of Bangladesh Flora of Cambodia Flora of Java Flora of Laos Flora of Peninsular Malaysia Flora of Myanmar Flora of the Philippines Flora of Sri Lanka Flora of Thailand Flora of Vietnam Plants described in 1808