Nymphaea alexii

Nymphaea alexii is a species of waterlily endemic to Queensland, Australia.

Vegetative characteristics
Nymphaea alexii is an annual or perennial plant with 2 cm wide, globose rhizomes. The elliptic, 15 cm long, and 10 cm wide leaf blades have a slightly sinuate margin.

Generative characteristics
The fragrant flowers extend up to 30 cm above the water surface. The androecium consists of 150 stamens with 17 mm long membranous filaments. The gynoecium consists of 8-16 carpels. The apex of the ovary often displays red colouration. The 4.5 cm wide, globose fruit bears elongate, glabrous, longitudinally ridged, 1-2 mm long seeds.

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 Queensland, Australia on the 17th of April 2005.

Placement within Nymphaea
It is placed in Nymphaea subgenus Confluentes.

Etymology
Nymphaea alexii is named after Alex James Fussell, the grandson of Surrey Wilfrid Laurance Jacobs.

Conservation
The NCA status of Nymphaea alexii is Special Least Concern.

Habitat
It occurs in shallow margins of lagoons, and in ephemeral billabongs.