Nymphaea nouchali var. nouchali is a variety of the water lily species Nymphaea nouchali in the family NymphaeaceaeArtfakta: Nymphaea nouchali var. nouchali. (2025). SLU Artdatabanken. Retrieved June 20, 2025, from https://artfakta.se/taxa/6329501/taxonomiNymphaea nouchali var. nouchali. (n.d.-c). WFO Plant List. Retrieved June 20, 2025, from https://wfoplantlist.org/taxon/wfo-1200024889-2023-12?page=1 native to the region spanning from tropical and subtropical Asia to north Australia.
Description Vegetative characteristics Nymphaea nouchali var. nouchali is a perennial,Shrestha, K., Bhattarai, S., & Bhandari, P. (2018). Handbook of Flowering Plants of Nepal (Vol. 1 Gymnosperms and Angiosperms: Cycadaceae - Betulaceae). p. 45. Scientific Publishers. rhizomatous,Perera, P. I. P., Attanayaka, T., Yakandawala, K., Yakandawala, D., Fernando, C., Arachchi, U., ... & Weerasinghe, C. (2021). In vitro culture of Nymphaea nouchali seeds; a conservation approach for a vulnerable species. Journal of the National Science Foundation of Sri Lanka, 49(3). aquatic herb.ECERO - Environmental Consultants, Educational and Rehabilitation Organization. (n.d.). Nymphaea nouchali var. nouchali Burm.f. Flora of Sri Lanka. Retrieved June 20, 2025, from https://www.floraofsrilanka.com/species/16 The upper leaf surface is bright green with purple spotting. The lower leaf surface is purple. The petiole is light green. Generative characteristics The blue, 4.5–9.6 cm wide flower has 8–24 blue, 2.4–7.8 cm long, and 0.3–3 cm wide petals with an acute apex. The gynoecium consists of 6–25 carpels.Guruge, S., Yakandawala, D., & Yakandawala, K. (2017). A taxonomic synopsis of Nymphaea nouchali Burm. f. and infraspecific taxa. Journal of the National Science Foundation of Sri Lanka, 45, 3.
Taxonomy It is an autonym, which was generated through the description of Nymphaea nouchali var. caerulea Missouri Botanical Garden. (n.d.). Nymphaea nouchali Burm. f. var. nouchali. Tropicos. Retrieved June 20, 2025, from https://tropicos.org/name/50213141
Ecology It occurs in coastal wetlands, marshes,Odedra, K., Shukla, K., & Jadeja, B. A. (2024). Coastal flora of porbandar district, Gujarat, India. Annals of Arid Zone, 63(4), 201-213. and lakes.Swapna, M., Rajilesh, V., Anoop, K., Ansari, R., & Prakashkumar, R. (2012). A floristic analysis of the wetlands of Wayanad district, Kerala, South India. J. Econ. Taxon. Bot, 36(2), 310–319.
Distribution It is native to Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, New Guinea, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam.
Conservation In Sri Lanka, it is a vulnerable species.
Use It is the national flower of Sri Lanka. It is used as food.
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