Nymphaea nouchali var. petersiana

'Nymphaea nouchali'' var. petersiana' is a variety of the water lily species Nymphaea nouchali'' Burm.f. native to the region spanning from Tanzania to South Africa.

Vegetative characteristics
Nymphaea nouchali var. petersiana is an aquatic, rhizomatous, perennial plant. The leaves are suborbicular to elliptic. The adaxial leaf surface is green and smooth, and the abaxial leaf surface is purple, red, or green with prominent venation.

Generative characteristics
The 6-12 cm wide, blue, white, or pink flowers emerge above the water surface. The flowers have four petals, and 14-20 petals. The androecium consists of 100 stamens.

Publication
It was first described as Nymphaea petersiana Klotzsch by Johann Friedrich Klotzsch in 1861. Later, it was included in the species Nymphaea nouchali Burm.f. as the variety Nymphaea nouchali var. petersiana (Klotzsch) Verdc. published by Bernard Verdcourt in 1989.

Etymology
The varietal name petersiana honours Wilhelm Peters (1815-1883).

Habitat
It occurs in pools, rivers, and lakes.

Use
The rhizomes are eaten in Malawi.