Nymphaea alexii is a species of waterlily endemic to Queensland, Australia.
Description Vegetative characteristics Nymphaea alexii is an annual or perennial plant with 2 cm wide, globose rhizomes. The elliptic, 15 cm long, and 10 cm wide leaf blades have a slightly sinuate margin. Generative characteristics The fragrant flowers extend up to 30 cm above the water surface. The androecium consists of 150 stamens with 17 mm long membranous filaments. The gynoecium consists of 8-16 carpels. The apex of the ovary often displays red colouration. The 4.5 cm wide, globose fruit bears elongate, glabrous, longitudinally ridged, 1-2 mm long seeds.
Taxonomy Publication It was first described by Surrey Wilfrid Laurance Jacobs and Carl Barre Hellquist in 2006.Les, D. H. (2011). "Surrey WL Jacobs (1946–2009) and aquatic plant research in Australia." Telopea, 13(1-2), 23-35.
Type specimen The type specimen was collected by Jacobs and Hellquist in Queensland, Australia on the 17th of April 2005.Jacobs, S. W., & Hellquist, C. B. (2006). "Three new species of Nymphaea (Nymphaeaceae) in Australia." Telopea, 11(2), 155-160.
Placement within Nymphaea It is placed in Nymphaea subgenus Confluentes.Dalziell, E. L. (2016). "Seed biology and ex situ storage behaviour of Australian Nymphaea (water lilies): implications for conservation (Doctoral dissertation, PhD thesis." University of Western Australia, Perth, WA).
Etymology Nymphaea alexii is named after Alex James Fussell, the grandson of Surrey Wilfrid Laurance Jacobs.
Conservation The NCA status of Nymphaea alexii is Special Least Concern.
Ecology Habitat It occurs in shallow margins of lagoons, and in ephemeral billabongs.
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