Nymphaea candida is a species of perennial, aquatic,[2] rhizomatous herb[3] in the family Nymphaeaceae native to the region spanning from Europe to Siberia and Western Himalaya.[1]
Description


Vegetative characteristics
Nymphaea candida is a perennial, aquatic,[2] rhizomatous herb[3] with unbranched,[4] 5 cm wide rhizomes.[5] The petiolate, stipulate,[3] oval to suborbicular floating leaf with an entire margin[5] and a deep basal sinus[6] is 10–30 cm long, and 25 cm wide.[5] The oblong submerged leaves have a thin lamina and short petioles.[3] The thick, terete,[3] smooth,[5] 30–100(–160) cm long petiole[7] has air canals.[3]
Generative characteristics
The bisexual,[7] actinomorphic, 5–15 cm wide flower[3] floats on the water surface.[4] The 4(–5) oblong to ovate-oblong sepals are 3.8 cm long, and 1.3 cm wide. The 12–20 white petals[5] are 3–5.5 cm long and show a gradual transition towards the stamens.[4] The petals decrease in size towards the centre of the flower.[6] The androecium consists of 32–70 stamens.[5] The gynoecium consists of 6–14 carpels.[8] The red or yellow stigmatic disk[6] is concave.[6][9][7] The green to red, ovoid to spherical, 1.9–4.4 cm wide fruit with persistent sepals bears ellipsoid, brown, arillate,[5] 4-6 mm long,[3] and 3-4 mm wide seeds.[6]
Cytology
The chromosome count is 2n = 112, 160.[4] The genome size is 1936.44 Mb.[10]
Taxonomy
The plant was described by Carl Borivoj Presl in 1882.[11][12] However, sometimes both Carl Borivoj Presl and Jan Svatopluk Presl are credited as the taxon authors.[2][3] Within the subgenus Nymphaea subg. Nymphaea it is placed in the section Nymphaea sect. Nymphaea.[13]
Etymology
The specific epithet candida from the Latin candidus means pure white.[14]
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.[15]
Conservation
It is endangered in China,[2] and Germany.[16]
Use
It is cultivated as an ornamental plant in water gardens.[9][17]
References
- ^ a b c 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
- ^ a b c d Zhou, X., Liu, H., Zhang, Y., & Guan, K. New record of the Endangered Nymphaea candida discovered in Xinjiang, China. Oryx, 1-1.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Nymphaea candida. (n.d.). Finnish Biodiversity Info Facility. Retrieved March 19, 2025, from https://laji.fi/en/taxon/MX.37841
- ^ a b c d 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
- ^ a b c d e f g Conard, 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
- ^ a b c d e Nymphaea 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
- ^ a b c Glänzende 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
- ^ Henkel, F., Rehnelt, F., Dittmann, L. (1907). Das Buch der Nymphaeaceen oder Seerosengewächse. pp. 83–84. Deutschland: Henkel.
- ^ a b Glänzende Seerose Nymphaea candida. (2022, April 13). Gartenteich Ratgeber. Retrieved March 19, 2025, from https://www.gartenteich-ratgeber.com/pflanzen/wasserpflanzen/seerosen/glaenzende-seerose/
- ^ 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.
- ^ Presl, Jan Svatopluk, & Presl, K. B. (1822). Deliciae pragenses, historiam naturalem spectantes (p. 224). Sumtibus Calve. https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/32211391
- ^ GBIF. "Nymphaea candida C. Presl - Checklist View". www.gbif.org. Retrieved 2016-12-06.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Vecchia, M. (n.d.-a). Passiflora candida (Poepp. &Endl.) Mast. (1871). Passiflora. Retrieved March 19, 2025, from https://www.passiflora.it/candida/226/eng/
- ^ "medicinal herbs: NYMPHAEA CANDIDA". www.naturalmedicinalherbs.net. Retrieved 2016-12-06.
- ^ 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/
- ^ 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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