Nymphaea maculata

Nymphaea maculata is a species of waterlily native to tropical Africa.

Vegetative characteristics
Nymphaea maculata is a submerged, perennial, aquatic herb with subglobose rhizomes, and many long, filiform roots. The petiolate, ovate-cordate floating leaves have entire margins. The abaxial leaf surface is spotted. The green abaxial leaf surface with black spotting displays prominent, dichotomous, anastomosing venation.

Generative characteristics
The white, or blueish-white flowers are 3-8 cm wide. The flowers have four sepals, and 5-10 petals. The androecium consists of 30 stamens. The ovary is subglobose, and has 14 stigmatic rays. The carpels have slightly incurved teeth. The multilocular, rounded fruit bears numerous small, arillate,rounded seeds.

Generative reproduction
Flowering occurs from February to March.

Publication
It was first described by Heinrich Christian Friedrich Schumacher and Peter Thonning in 1827.

Etymology
The specific epithet maculata means spotted.

Conservation
In Benin, it is regarded as vulnerable (VU). It will face changes in land use, and habitat fragmentation.

Habitat
It occurs in ponds, swamps, permanent spring pools, acid, shallow, oligotrophic pools, and shallow pools in marshes with very dark waters. It occurs sympatrically with Nymphaea lotus.

Use
The rhizome is edible, and the fruits are eaten as well. In Cameroon, Nymphaea maculata is an important melliferous plant for honey production.