Nymphaea candida

Description

Vegetative characteristics

Nymphaea candida is a perennial, aquatic, rhizomatous herb with unbranched, 5 cm wide rhizomes. The petiolate, stipulate, oval to suborbicular floating leaf with an entire margin and a deep basal sinus is 10–30 cm long, and 25 cm wide. The oblong submerged leaves have a thin lamina and short petioles. The thick, terete, smooth, 30–100(–160) cm long petiole has air canals.

Generative characteristics

The bisexual, actinomorphic, 5–15 cm wide flower floats on the water surface. The 4(–5) oblong to ovate-oblong sepals are 3.8 cm long, and 1.3 cm wide. The 12–20 white petals are 3–5.5 cm long and show a gradual transition towards the stamens. The petals decrease in size towards the centre of the flower. The androecium consists of 32–70 stamens. The gynoecium consists of 6–14 carpels. The red or yellow stigmatic disk is concave. The green to red, ovoid to spherical, 1.9–4.4 cm wide fruit with persistent sepals bears ellipsoid, brown, arillate, 4-6 mm long, and 3-4 mm wide seeds.

Cytology

The chromosome count is 2n = 112, 160. The genome size is 1936.44 Mb.

Taxonomy

The plant was described by Carl Borivoj Presl in 1882. However, sometimes both Carl Borivoj Presl and Jan Svatopluk Presl are credited as the taxon authors. Within the subgenus Nymphaea subg. Nymphaea it is placed in the section Nymphaea sect. Nymphaea.

Etymology

The specific epithet candida from the Latin candidus means pure white.

Distribution and habitat

It grows in the quiet freshwaters in Eurasia. The plant grows only in water, as it is an aquatic plant, mainly in ponds, lakes, and slow flowing streams.

Conservation

It is endangered in China, and Germany.

Use

It is cultivated as an ornamental plant in water gardens.

References

References

1. ''Nymphaea candida'' C.Presl. (n.d.). Plants of the World Online. Retrieved March 19, 2025, from https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:605520-1
2. ''Nymphaea candida''. (n.d.). Finnish Biodiversity Info Facility. Retrieved March 19, 2025, from https://laji.fi/en/taxon/MX.37841
3. ''Nymphaea candida'' in Flora of China @ efloras.org. (n.d.). Retrieved March 19, 2025, from http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=2&taxon_id=200007086
4. ''Nymphaea candida'' in Flora of Pakistan @ efloras.org. (n.d.). Retrieved March 19, 2025, from http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=5&taxon_id=200007086
5. Glänzende Seerose - ''Nymphaea candida''. (n.d.). Pflanzen in Deutschland - Das Umfassende Pflanzenportal Für Die Heimische Flora. Retrieved March 19, 2025, from https://www.pflanzen-deutschland.de/Nymphaea_candida.html
6. Conard, Henry S. (1905). The waterlilies: a monograph of the genus ''Nymphaea'' (pp. 172–173). Pub. by the Carnegie Institution of Washington. https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/35045009
7. Henkel, F., Rehnelt, F., Dittmann, L. (1907). [https://archive.org/details/Henkel_Nymphaeaceen/page/n84/mode/1up Das Buch der Nymphaeaceen oder Seerosengewächse.] pp. 83–84. Deutschland: Henkel.
8. Chen, F., Liu, X., Yu, C., Chen, Y., Tang, H., & Zhang, L. (2017). [https://academic.oup.com/hr/article-pdf/doi/10.1038/hortres.2017.51/41958119/41438_2017_article_bfhortres201751.pdf "Water lilies as emerging models for Darwin’s abominable mystery."] Horticulture research, 4.
9. Presl, Jan Svatopluk, & Presl, K. B. (1822). Deliciae pragenses, historiam naturalem spectantes (p. 224). Sumtibus Calve. https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/32211391
10. GBIF. "Nymphaea candida C. Presl - Checklist View".
11. USDA, Agricultural Research Service, National Plant Germplasm System. 2025. Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN Taxonomy). National Germplasm Resources Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland. URL: https://npgsweb.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/taxon/taxonomydetail?id=415662. Accessed 19 March 2025.
12. Vecchia, M. (n.d.-a). ''Passiflora candida'' (Poepp. &Endl.) Mast. (1871). Passiflora. Retrieved March 19, 2025, from https://www.passiflora.it/candida/226/eng/
13. "medicinal herbs: NYMPHAEA CANDIDA".
14. Zhou, X., Liu, H., Zhang, Y., & Guan, K. [https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/oryx/article/new-record-of-the-endangered-nymphaea-candida-discovered-in-xinjiang-china/648C39BAD79880C47E6B2166FF3EEF7D New record of the Endangered Nymphaea candida discovered in Xinjiang, China.] Oryx, 1-1.
15. Rettung für die Glänzende Seerose. (2024, July 29). Baden-Württemberg Regierungspräsidien. Retrieved March 19, 2025, from https://rp.baden-wuerttemberg.de/rps/seiten/aktuellemeldung/rettung-fuer-die-glaenzende-seerose/
16. Glänzende Seerose ''Nymphaea candida''. (2022, April 13). Gartenteich Ratgeber. Retrieved March 19, 2025, from https://www.gartenteich-ratgeber.com/pflanzen/wasserpflanzen/seerosen/glaenzende-seerose/
17. Hensel, W., Hudak, R., Leute, A., Mayer, J. (2011). [https://www.google.de/books/edition/Garten_Das_Gr%C3%BCne_von_GU/RQijmMKs6_IC?hl=de&gbpv=1&dq=%22Nymphaea%20candida%22&pg=PA386&printsec=frontcover Garten - Das Grüne von GU: Gartenpraxis Schritt für Schritt.] p. 386. Deutschland: GRÄFE UND UNZER Verlag GmbH.