Nymphaea candida is a species of perennial, aquatic, rhizomatous herb in the family Nymphaeaceae native to the region spanning from Europe to Siberia and Western Himalaya.Nymphaea candida C.Presl. (n.d.). Plants of the World Online. Retrieved March 19, 2025, from https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:605520-1
Description
Vegetative characteristics Nymphaea candida is a perennial, aquatic, rhizomatous herbNymphaea candida. (n.d.). Finnish Biodiversity Info Facility. Retrieved March 19, 2025, from https://laji.fi/en/taxon/MX.37841 with unbranched,Nymphaea candida in Flora of China @ efloras.org. (n.d.). Retrieved March 19, 2025, from http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=2&taxon_id=200007086 5 cm wide rhizomes. The petiolate, stipulate, oval to suborbicular floating leaf with an entire margin and a deep basal sinusNymphaea candida in Flora of Pakistan @ efloras.org. (n.d.). Retrieved March 19, 2025, from http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=5&taxon_id=200007086 is 10–30 cm long, and 25 cm wide. The oblong submerged leaves have a thin lamina and short petioles. The thick, terete, smooth, 30–100(–160) cm long petioleGlänzende Seerose - Nymphaea candida. (n.d.). Pflanzen in Deutschland - Das Umfassende Pflanzenportal Für Die Heimische Flora. Retrieved March 19, 2025, from https://www.pflanzen-deutschland.de/Nymphaea_candida.html has air canals. Generative characteristics The bisexual, actinomorphic, 5–15 cm wide flower floats on the water surface. The 4(–5) oblong to ovate-oblong sepals are 3.8 cm long, and 1.3 cm wide. The 12–20 white petalsConard, Henry S. (1905). The waterlilies: a monograph of the genus Nymphaea (pp. 172–173). Pub. by the Carnegie Institution of Washington. https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/35045009 are 3–5.5 cm long and show a gradual transition towards the stamens. The petals decrease in size towards the centre of the flower. The androecium consists of 32–70 stamens. The gynoecium consists of 6–14 carpels.Henkel, F., Rehnelt, F., Dittmann, L. (1907). Das Buch der Nymphaeaceen oder Seerosengewächse. pp. 83–84. Deutschland: Henkel. The red or yellow stigmatic disk is concave. The green to red, ovoid to spherical, 1.9–4.4 cm wide fruit with persistent sepals bears ellipsoid, brown, arillate, 4-6 mm long, and 3-4 mm wide seeds.
Cytology The chromosome count is 2n = 112, 160. The genome size is 1936.44 Mb.Chen, F., Liu, X., Yu, C., Chen, Y., Tang, H., & Zhang, L. (2017). "Water lilies as emerging models for Darwin’s abominable mystery." Horticulture research, 4.
Taxonomy The plant was described by Carl Borivoj Presl in 1882.Presl, Jan Svatopluk, & Presl, K. B. (1822). Deliciae pragenses, historiam naturalem spectantes (p. 224). Sumtibus Calve. https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/32211391 However, sometimes both Carl Borivoj Presl and Jan Svatopluk Presl are credited as the taxon authors. Within the subgenus Nymphaea subg. Nymphaea it is placed in the section Nymphaea sect. Nymphaea.USDA, Agricultural Research Service, National Plant Germplasm System. 2025. Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN Taxonomy). National Germplasm Resources Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland. URL: https://npgsweb.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/taxon/taxonomydetail?id=415662. Accessed 19 March 2025. Etymology The specific epithet candida from the Latin candidus means pure white.Vecchia, M. (n.d.-a). Passiflora candida (Poepp. &Endl.) Mast. (1871). Passiflora. Retrieved March 19, 2025, from https://www.passiflora.it/candida/226/eng/
Distribution and habitat It grows in the quiet freshwaters in Eurasia. The plant grows only in water, as it is an aquatic plant, mainly in ponds, lakes, and slow flowing streams.
Conservation It is endangered in China,Zhou, X., Liu, H., Zhang, Y., & Guan, K. New record of the Endangered Nymphaea candida discovered in Xinjiang, China. Oryx, 1-1. and Germany.Rettung für die Glänzende Seerose. (2024, July 29). Baden-Württemberg Regierungspräsidien. Retrieved March 19, 2025, from https://rp.baden-wuerttemberg.de/rps/seiten/aktuellemeldung/rettung-fuer-die-glaenzende-seerose/
Use It is cultivated as an ornamental plant in water gardens.Glänzende Seerose Nymphaea candida. (2022, April 13). Gartenteich Ratgeber. Retrieved March 19, 2025, from https://www.gartenteich-ratgeber.com/pflanzen/wasserpflanzen/seerosen/glaenzende-seerose/Hensel, W., Hudak, R., Leute, A., Mayer, J. (2011). Garten - Das Grüne von GU: Gartenpraxis Schritt für Schritt. p. 386. Deutschland: GRÄFE UND UNZER Verlag GmbH.
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