Nymphaea lasiophylla is a species of waterlily native to East Brazil. It has also been introduced to the Venezuelan Antilles.
Description Vegetative characteristics Nymphaea lasiophylla is an aquatic herb with cylindrical tubers. The leaf blade is suborbicular to orbicular and has an entire, flat margin. The actinodromous leaf venation with impressed veinsPellegrini, M. O. O. & Jardim Botânico do Rio de Janeiro. (n.d.-b). Nymphaea lasiophylla Mart. & Zucc. Flora E Funga Do Brasil. Retrieved December 18, 2023, from https://floradobrasil.jbrj.gov.br/FB10944 has 7-11 primary veins. Generative characteristics The nocturnal flowers float on the water surface. The crimson red, 6-7 mm long carpellary appendages are clavate.
The strongly aromatic, solvent-like floral fragrance consists of twelve compounds: Methyl hexanoate, Methyl 2-methylbutanoate, Ethyl 2-methylbutanoate, Methyl 2-hydroxy-2-methylbutanoate, Methyl 3-hydroxy-2-methylpropanoate, Benzyl alcohol, Benzaldehyde, Methyl benzoate, Benzyl 2-methylbutanoate, Anisole, (methoxymethyl)benzene, and 1.4-dimethoxybenzene.Maia, A. C. D., de Lima, C. T., Navarro, D. M. D. A. F., Chartier, M., Giulietti, A. M., & Machado, I. C. (2014). "The floral scents of Nymphaea subg. Hydrocallis (Nymphaeaceae), the New World night-blooming water lilies, and their relation with putative pollinators." Phytochemistry, 103, 67-75.
Cytology The diploid chromosome count is 2n = 18.
Reproduction Vegetative reproduction Both stolons and proliferating pseudanthia are present. Nymphaea lasiophylla forms 1-2 secondary proliferating pseudanthia. They are the main mode of reproduction in this species. The tubers, which often develop leaves and roots prior to their detachment, break off easily from the proliferating pseudanthia. They briefly float in the water and grow into new plants elsewhere. Generative reproduction While generative reproduction does occur, its significance is diminished by the prominence of vegetative reproduction through proliferating pseudanthia.Grob, V., Moline, P., Pfeifer, E., Novelo, A. R., & Rutishauser, R. (2006). "Developmental morphology of branching flowers in Nymphaea prolifera." Journal of Plant Research, 119, 561-570. Seeds were only observed in one of 20 populations.
Taxonomy It was first described by Carl Friedrich Philipp von Martius and Joseph Gerhard Zuccarini in 1832.
Type specimen The type specimen was collected close to Joazerio in the state of Bahia, Brazil.de Lima, C. T., Machado, I. C., & Giulietti, A. M. (2021). "Nymphaeaceae of Brasil." Sitientibus série Ciências Biológicas, 21.Conard, H. S. (2015). The Waterlilies: A Monograph of the Genus Nymphaea (Classic Reprint). pp. 207-208. USA: FB&C Limited.Henkel, F., Rehnelt, F., Dittmann, L. (1907). "Das Buch der Nymphaeaceen oder Seerosengewächse." p. 77. Deutschland: Henkel.
Placement within Nymphaea It is placed in Nymphaea subg. Hydrocallis.Wiersema, J. H. (1987). A monograph of Nymphaea subgenus Hydrocallis (Nymphaeaceae). Systematic Botany Monographs, 1-112.
Segregation of Nymphaea caatingae Plant material previously believed to be Nymphaea lasiophylla was later assigned to a new species, Nymphaea caatingae.
Etymology The specific epithet lasiophylla means woolly-leaved.Stearn, W. T. (1983). Botanical latin: History, Grammar, Syntax, Terminology, and Vocabulary. p. 455. However, the name is misleading, as the authors mistook a layer of algae as trichomes.
Conservation Nymphaea lasiophylla may face loss of habitat, due to climate change.Nzei, J. M., Ngarega, B. K., Mwanzia, V. M., Kurauka, J. K., Wang, Q. F., Chen, J. M., ... & Pan, C. (2022). "Assessment of climate change and land use effects on Water Lily (Nymphaea L.) habitat suitability in South America." Diversity, 14(10), 830.
Ecology Habitat Nymphaea lasiophylla is found growing in temporary bodies of water along roadsides, in depressions in arid climate regions, in coastal lagoons,de Sousa, D. J. L., & Matias, L. Q. (2012). "Synopsis of genus Nymphaea L.(Nymphaeaceae) in state of Ceará." Revista Caatinga, 25(3), 72-78. in artificial ponds, and in stagnant waters. Populations of Nymphaea lasiophylla have the ability to persist in and dominate temporary aquatic habitats.Tabosa, A. B., Matias, L. Q., & Martins, F. R. (2012). "Live fast and die young: the aquatic macrophyte dynamics in a temporary pool in the Brazilian semiarid region." Aquatic Botany, 102, 71-78. It occurs sympatrically with Nymphaea vanildae.De Lima, C. T., & Guilietti, A. M. (2013). "Nymphaea vanildae (Nymphaeaceae): A new species from the Caatinga in Brazil." Phytotaxa, 134(1), 42-48. Pollination It is pollinated by the beetle species Cyclocephala putrida. Beetles have been discovered trapped within flowers, which close during the day.
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