Nymphaea paganuccii

Nymphaea paganuccii is a species of waterlily endemic to Brazil.

Vegetative characteristics
Nymphaea paganuccii is an aquatic herb. It has cylindrical tubers, which are not stoloniferous. The glabrous, green, non-brittle petioles have four primary central and four secondary peripheral air canals. The elliptic, suborbicular to orbicular leaf blade has a flat and entire margin. The blade is 15.3–19.8 cm long and 10–17.3 cm wide.

Generative characteristics
The nocturnal flowers float on the water surface. The non-brittle, brownish, glabrous peduncle has six primary central and 12 secondary peripheral air canals. The ovoid, smooth, pilose seeds have trichomes arranged in continuous longitudinal lines. The seeds are 1–1.2 mm long and 0.7–0.8 mm wide.

Vegetative reproduction
Both stolons and proliferating pseudanthia are absent.

Generative reproduction
Flowering and fruiting has been observed in the month of July. Sexual reproduction plays a significant role in this species.

Taxonomy
It was first described by C.T.Lima and Ana Maria Giulietti in 2021.

Type specimen
The type specimen was collected by C.T. Lima and L. Lima at depths of 1-3 m in a lagoon by the Tapajós river of the Santarém municipality in the state Pará, Brazil on the 18th of July 2011.

Placement within Nymphaea
It is placed in Nymphaea subgenus Hydrocallis.

Etymology
The specific epithet paganuccii honours Prof. Dr. Luciano Paganucci de Queiroz of the State University of Feira de Santana, Brazil.

Habitat
It occurs in the aquatic habitats of the Amazon rainforest. The depth of the lagoon habitat in the type locality fluctuates based on precipitation in the region, with a complete dry period occurring between August and December. It occurs sympatrically with several other Nymphaea species, namely Nymphaea amazonum, Nymphaea pedersenii, Nymphaea rapinii, and Nymphaea lingulata.

Pollination
Beetles of the genus Cyclocephala visit the flowers of Nymphaea paganuccii and have been trapped within them, indicating pollination by these beetles.