Nymphaea harleyi is a species of waterlily endemic to Brazil.
Description Vegetative characteristics Nymphaea harleyi is an aquatic herbPellegrini, M. O. O. & Jardim Botânico do Rio de Janeiro. (n.d.-b). Nymphaea harleyi C.T.Lima & Giul. Flora E Funga Do Brasil. Retrieved December 17, 2023, from https://floradobrasil.jbrj.gov.br/FB623383 with cylindrical tubers, which are not stoloniferous. The leaf blades float on the water surface. It is ovate and has an entire and flat margin. It has actinodromous leaf venation. The 9.3−15.2 cm long and 6.5−10 cm wide leaf blades are attached to 2−4 mm wide petioles with four major, two medium, and 8 minor peripheral air canals. Generative characteristics The nocturnal flowers float on the water surface. The flowers have peduncles with five primary central and ten secondary peripheral air canals. The gynoecium is syncarpous and consists of 27−35 carpels. The clavate appendix of the carpels have an obtuse to rounded apex.
Reproduction Vegetative reproduction Both stolons and proliferating pseudanthia are absent.de Lima, C. T., Machado, I. C., & Giulietti, A. M. (2021). "Nymphaeaceae of Brasil." Sitientibus série Ciências Biológicas, 21. Generative reproduction Neither fruits nor seeds have been observed.
Taxonomy It was first described by C.T.Lima and Ana Maria Giulietti in 2021.
Type specimen The type specimen was collected by C.T. Lima, R. Machado, A.M. Giulietti and R.M. Harley on 3 February 2012 in Tocantins, Brazil.
Placement within Nymphaea It is placed in Nymphaea subg. Hydrocallis.
Etymology The specific epithet harleyi honours Prof. Dr. Raymond M. Harley of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
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