Nymphaea immutabilis is a species of waterlily native to Western Australia, the Northern Territory, and Queensland, Australia.[2]

Nymphaea immutabilis
Flowering Nymphaea immutabilis in cultivation at the Berlin Botanical Garden and Botanical Museum
Flowering Nymphaea immutabilis in cultivation at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Order: Nymphaeales
Family: Nymphaeaceae
Genus: Nymphaea
Species:
N. immutabilis
Binomial name
Nymphaea immutabilis
S.W.L.Jacobs[2]
Nymphaea immutabilis is native to Western Australia, the Northern Territory, and Queensland, Australia[2]
Synonyms[2]
  • Nymphaea lotus var. australis F.M.Bailey

Description

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Vegetative characteristics

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Nymphaea immutabilis is an annual or perennial plant with globose rhizomes.[3] The round, 70 cm wide leaves have dentate margins.[4][3]

Generative characteristics

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The flowers extend up to 50 cm above the water surface.[4] The flowers have four sepals, and 34 petals. The androecium consists of 400 stamens. The gynoecium consists of 9-20 carpels.[3] The globose, 5 cm wide fruit bears numerous 4 mm long, and 2.5 mm wide, rounded seeds with trichomes arranged in irregular rows.[4] Immature seeds are red, but mature to brownish-grey seeds.[5] The seeds have a mechanism of physiological dormancy.[6]

Cytology

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The chromosome count is n = 42. The genome size is 1408.32 Mb.[7]

Reproduction

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Generative reproduction

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Flowering occurs from March to November.[4][3]

Taxonomy

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Publication

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It was first described by Surrey Wilfrid Laurance Jacobs in 1992.[2]

Type specimen

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The type specimen was collected by S. Jacobs and J. Clarkson near Mareeba, Queensland, Australia on the 26th of July 1987.[3]

Placement within Nymphaea

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It is placed in Nymphaea subgenus Anecphya.[6]

Separation of Nymphaea kimberleyensis

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The subspecies Nymphaea immutabilis subsp. kimberleyensis S.W.L.Jacobs was described in 1992. Later in 2011, it was elevated to a separate species Nymphaea kimberleyensis (S.W.L.Jacobs) S.W.L.Jacobs & Hellq.[8][9]

Etymology

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The specific epithet immutabilis, meaning unchanging, references the floral colouration, which does not change as the flower ages.[3]

Conservation

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The NCA status of Nymphaea immutabilis is Special Least Concern (SL).[1] In the Northern Territory it is categorised as vulnerable.[10][11]

Ecology

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Habitat

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It occurs in swamps,[6] permanent, or temporary waters,[3] billabongs, streams, and rivers.[5]

References

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  1. ^ a b Queensland Government. (2022e, March 8). Species profile — Nymphaea immutabilis. Retrieved January 2, 2024, from https://apps.des.qld.gov.au/species-search/details/?id=21929
  2. ^ a b c d e "Nymphaea immutabilis S.W.L.Jacobs". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 2 January 2024.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g Jacobs, S. W. L. (1992). "New species, lectotypes and synonyms of Australasian Nymphaea (Nymphaeaceae)." Telopea, 4(4), 635-641.
  4. ^ a b c d Stephens, K. M., Dowling, R. M. (2002). "Wetland Plants of Queensland: A Field Guide." p. 56. Kokosinsel (Keeling): CSIRO Publishing.
  5. ^ a b 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)."
  6. ^ a b c Dalziell, E. L., Baskin, C. C., Baskin, J. M., Young, R. E., Dixon, K. W., & Merritt, D. J. (2019). "Morphophysiological dormancy in the basal angiosperm order Nymphaeales." Annals of botany, 123(1), 95-106.
  7. ^ 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.
  8. ^ Jacobs, S. W., & Hellquist, C. B. (2011). "New species, possible hybrids and intergrades in Australian Nymphaea (Nymphaeaceae) with a key to all species." Telopea, 13(1-2), 233-243.
  9. ^ "Nymphaea kimberleyensis (S.W.L.Jacobs) S.W.L.Jacobs & Hellq". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 2 January 2024.
  10. ^ White, M., Albrecht, D., Duguid, A., Latz, P., & Hamilton, M. (2000). "Plant species and sites of botanical significance in the southern bioregions of the Northern Territory. Volume 1: significant vascular plants."
  11. ^ Fisher, A., Baker, B., & Woinarski, J. (2002). "Mitchell Grass Downs, Northern Territory."