Nymphaea nouchali
caerulea
Selected images: Click on each image to see a larger version and details of the record View all images (6)
Photo: Bart Wursten
Zomba Community
Photo: Bart Wursten
Along footpath from Zomba to Magorogodo
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Species details: Click on each item to see an explanation of that item (Note: opens a new window)
| Synonyms: |
Nymphaea caerulea Savigny Nymphaea capensis Thunb. Nymphaea stellata sensu Harv. |
| Common names: | Waterlily (English) |
| Frequency: | |
| Status: | Native |
| Description: |
Aquatic perennial with floating leaves grow from a tuberous rhizome. Leaves sub-orbicular to elliptic, deeply cordate and peltate at the base; upper surface green and smooth; lower surface green,red or purple with more or less prominently raised venation; margin entire or slightly undulate towards the base. Flowers, 6-20 cm in diameter, blue, pinkish or rarely white, on fleshy stems, usually held erect above the surface of the water; sepals normally 4; petals 12-24 as long as the sepals; stamens 30 to more than 100, prolonged beyond the anthers by a white appendage. |
| Type location: |
Egypt |
| Notes: | See var. petersiana for comparison. |
| Derivation of specific name: | |
| Habitat: | In lakes, pools and slow flowing rivers. |
| Altitude range: (metres) | |
| Flowering time: | All year, but especially Feb - May |
| Worldwide distribution: | Widespread from Egypt, throughout tropical Africa to KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. |
| FZ divisions: | N,Z,T,MS,GI,M |
| Growth form(s): | Aquatic. |
| Endemic status: | |
| Red data list status: | |
| Insects associated with this species: | |
| Spot characters: | Display spot characters for this species |
| Images last updated: | Saturday 22 March 2014 |
| Literature: |
Bandeira, S., Bolnick, D. & Barbosa, F. (2007). Wild Flowers of Southern Mozambique Universidade Eduardo Mondlane, Maputo, Mozambique Page 80. as Nymphaea nouchali (Includes a picture). Baumann, G. (2005). Photographic Guide to Wildflowers of Malawi Wildlife and Environmental Society of Malawi Pages 26 - 27. as Nymphaea caerulea (Includes a picture). Chapano, C. & Mamuto, M. (2003). Plants of the Chimanimani District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 40. Heath, A. & Heath, R. (2009). Field Guide to the Plants of Northern Botswana including the Okavango Delta Kew Publishing Page 55. (Includes a picture). Linley, K. & Baker, B. (1972). Flowers of the Veld Bundu Series Longman Zimbabwe Page 34. As Nymphaea caerulea (Includes a picture). Mapaura, A. & Timberlake, J. (eds) (2004). A checklist of Zimbabwean vascular plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 33 Sabonet, Pretoria and Harare Page 64. Mendonça, F.A. (1960). Nymphaeaceae Flora Zambesiaca 1(1) Pages 177 - 179. As Nymphaea capensis and Nymphaea caerulea Ntore, S. & al. (2024). Checklist of the vascular plants of Burundi Page 169. Setshogo, M.P. (2005). Preliminary checklist of the plants of Botswana. Sabonet Report no. 37. Sabonet, Pretoria and Gaborone Page 90. Timberlake, J.R. & Childes, S.L. (2004). Biodiversity of the Four Corners Area: Technical Reviews Volume Two (Chapter 5-15) Appendix 5-1: Plant Checklist Occasional Publications in Biodiversity 15 Page 220. also as Nymphaea capensis Troupin, G. (1978). Nymphaeaceae Flore du Rwanda Spermatophytes Volume I Pages 280 - 282. as Nymphaea nouchalii (Includes a picture). Vollesen, K. & Merrett, L. (2019). Field Guide to the (wetter) Zambian Miombo Woodland. Part 1 (Ferns & Monocots) GVPedia Communications Page 115. (Includes a picture). |
Other sources of information about Nymphaea nouchali var. caerulea:
Our websites:
Flora of Botswana: Nymphaea nouchali var. caeruleaFlora of Burundi: Nymphaea nouchali var. caerulea
Flora of Caprivi: Nymphaea nouchali var. caerulea
Flora of the DRC: Nymphaea nouchali var. caerulea
Flora of Malawi: Nymphaea nouchali var. caerulea
Flora of Rwanda: Nymphaea nouchali var. caerulea
Flora of Zambia: Nymphaea nouchali var. caerulea
Flora of Zimbabwe: Nymphaea nouchali var. caerulea
External websites:
African Plants: A Photo Guide (Senckenberg): Nymphaea nouchaliAfrican Plant Database: Nymphaea nouchali
BHL (Biodiversity Heritage Library): Nymphaea nouchali
EOL (Encyclopedia of Life): Nymphaea nouchali
GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility): Nymphaea nouchali
Google: Web - Images - Scholar
iNaturalist: Nymphaea nouchali
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Nymphaea nouchali
JSTOR Plant Science: Nymphaea nouchali
Mansfeld World Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops: Nymphaea nouchali
Plants of the World Online: Nymphaea nouchali
Tropicos: Nymphaea nouchali
Wikipedia: Nymphaea nouchali