Nymphaea carpentariae is a species of waterlily native to Queensland and Western Australia.
Description Vegetative characteristics Nymphaea carpentariae is a perennial plant with 4 cm wide, globose to elongate rhizomes. The 45 cm wide, orbicular-elliptic leaves have dentate margins.
Generative characteristics The fragrant flowers rise up to 40 cm above the water surface. The androecium consists of 150-300 stamens. The gynoecium consists of 7-19 carpels. The 4 cm wide, globose fruits bear spherical too elongate-sherical, 2–3.5 mm long, and 2mm wide seeds with continuous rows of 0.1-0.15 mm long trichomes.
Cytology The chromosome count is n = ~42. The genome size is 1447.44 Mb.Chen, F., Liu, X., Yu, C., Chen, Y., Tang, H., & Zhang, L. (2017). "Water lilies as emerging models for Darwin's abominable mystery." Horticulture research, 4.
Taxonomy Publication It was first described by Surrey Wilfrid Laurance Jacobs and Carl Barre Hellquist in 2006.
Type specimen The type specimen was collected by Jacobs and Hellquist in Burketown, Queensland, Australia on the 18th of April 2005.Jacobs, S. W., & Hellquist, C. B. (2006). "Three new species of Nymphaea (Nymphaeaceae) in Australia." Telopea, 11(2), 155-160.Nymphaea carpentariae | International Plant Names Index. (n.d.). Retrieved December 29, 2023, from https://www.ipni.org/n/77079797-1
Placement within Nymphaea It is placed in Nymphaea subgenus Anecphya.
Etymology The specific epithet carpentariae references the Gulf of Carpentaria, Australia.
Conservation The NCA status of Nymphaea carpentariae is Special Least Concern. According to the Western Australia Conservation status, it is a poorly-known species (P1).Australia, A. O. L. (n.d.). Species: Nymphaea carpentariae. Retrieved December 29, 2023, from https://bie.ala.org.au/species/https://id.biodiversity.org.au/node/apni/2916696
Ecology Habitat It is found in lagoons, and in billabongs.
Cultivation It has a named cultivar Nymphaea carpentariae "Julia Leu".Nymphaea carpentariae "Julia Leu." (n.d.). IWGS Plant Database. Retrieved December 29, 2023, from https://plants.iwgs.org/Home/PlantDetail?taxonID=132825WGI International Checklist of Nymphaea (Waterlily) Cultivars. (n.d.). Water Gardeners International. Retrieved December 29, 2023, from http://www.watergardenersinternational.org/checklist/carpentariae_julia_leu/form.htm
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