Home | > | List of families | > | Nymphaeaceae | > | Nymphaea | > | nouchali |
Synonyms: |
Nymphaea caerulea Savigny Nymphaea capensis Thunb. Nymphaea stellata sensu Harv. |
Common names: | Amalebo-emfula (Ndebele) Hapa (Shona) Hobvwe (Shona) Ikalala (Ndebele) Kwibu (Tonga: Zimbabwe) Makalala (Hlengwe) Matiwu (Hlengwe) Waterlily (English) |
Frequency: | |
Status: | Native |
Description: |
Aquatic perennial with floating leaves grow from a tuberous rhizome. Leaves sub-orbicular to elliptic, deeply cordate and peltate at the base; upper surface green and smooth; lower surface green,red or purple with more or less prominently raised venation; margin entire or slightly undulate towards the base. Flowers, 6-20 cm in diameter, blue, pinkish or rarely white, on fleshy stems, usually held erect above the surface of the water; sepals normally 4; petals 12-24 as long as the sepals; stamens 30 to more than 100, prolonged beyond the anthers by a white appendage. |
Notes: | See var. petersiana for comparison. |
Derivation of specific name: | |
Habitat: | In lakes, pools and slow flowing rivers. |
Altitude range: (metres) | |
Flowering time: | All year, but especially Feb - May |
Worldwide distribution: | Widespread from Egypt, throughout tropical Africa to KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. |
Zimbabwe distribution: | N,W,C,E,S |
Growth form(s): | Aquatic. |
Endemic status: | |
Red data list status: | |
Insects associated with this species: | |
Spot characters: | Display spot characters for this species |
Images last updated: | Saturday 14 February 2009 |
Literature: |
Bandeira, S., Bolnick, D. & Barbosa, F. (2007). Wild Flowers of Southern Mozambique Universidade Eduardo Mondlane, Maputo, Mozambique Page 80. as Nymphaea nouchali (Includes a picture). Baumann, G. (2005). Photographic Guide to Wildflowers of Malawi Wildlife and Environmental Society of Malawi Pages 26 - 27. as Nymphaea caerulea (Includes a picture). Chapano, C. & Mamuto, M. (2003). Plants of the Chimanimani District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 40. Heath, A. & Heath, R. (2009). Field Guide to the Plants of Northern Botswana including the Okavango Delta Kew Publishing Page 55. (Includes a picture). Linley, K. & Baker, B. (1972). Flowers of the Veld Bundu Series Longman Zimbabwe Page 34. As Nymphaea caerulea (Includes a picture). Mapaura, A. & Timberlake, J. (eds) (2004). A checklist of Zimbabwean vascular plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 33 Sabonet, Pretoria and Harare Page 64. Mendonça, F.A. (1960). Nymphaeaceae Flora Zambesiaca 1(1) Pages 177 - 179. As Nymphaea capensis and Nymphaea caerulea Setshogo, M.P. (2005). Preliminary checklist of the plants of Botswana. Sabonet Report no. 37. Sabonet, Pretoria and Gaborone Page 90. Timberlake, J.R. & Childes, S.L. (2004). Biodiversity of the Four Corners Area: Technical Reviews Volume Two (Chapter 5-15) Appendix 5-1: Plant Checklist Occasional Publications in Biodiversity 15 Page 220. also as Nymphaea capensis |
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