Nymphaea pulchella

Nymphaea pulchella is a species of waterlily native to the regions spanning from Central and Southern Mexico to Brazil, as well as from the Bahamas to the Virgin Islands, including St. Croix.

Vegetative characteristics
Nymphaea pulchella is an aquatic herb with cylindrical to subglobose tubers. The elliptic, suborbicular to orbicular leaves have a sinuate to dentate margin. The veins show minimal prominence on the abaxial leaf surface.

Generative characteristics
The diurnal flowers can extend up to 20 cm above the water surface. They are held up by glabrous, brownish, non-brittle peduncles with six primary central and 12-13 secondary peripheral air canals. The androecium consists of 43-80 stamens. The ellipsoid, smooth, hispid seeds have trichomes arranged in continuous longitudinal lines.

Vegetative reproduction
Proliferating pseudanthia are absent.

Generative reproduction
It is autogamous, but reproduction is more fruitful in the presence of pollinators. Flowering and fruiting occurs throughout the year. Generative reproduction is the main mode of reproduction.

Publication
It was first described by Augustin Pyramus de Candolle in 1821.

Placement within Nymphaea
It is placed in Nymphaea subgenus Brachyceras.

Etymology
The specific epithet pulchella means "beautiful" or "pretty".

Conservation
In Puerto Rico, USA, it faces habitat destruction.

Habitat
It occurs in freshwater habitats, such as lakes, ponds, lagoons, streams, and temporary puddles.

Pollination
The bee species Trigona spinipes is an effective pollinator of Nymphaea pulchella. In some cases, the bees coated in pollen fall into the stigmatic fluid and die. The flowers are also visited by the bee species Apis mellifera, as well as flies.

Herbivory
The bee species Trigona spinipes is florivorous, i.e. it consumes parts of the flowers of Nymphaea pulchella.