Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jul 19, 2026

Nymphaea elleniae

Nymphaea elleniae is a species of waterlily native to Papua New Guinea, and North Queensland, Australia.

Last revised
Jul 19, 2026
Read time
≈ 2 min
Length
385 w
Citations
15
Source
Wikipedia ↗
Nymphaea elleniae
Special Least Concern (NCA)1
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Embryophytes
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Spermatophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Order: Nymphaeales
Family: Nymphaeaceae
Genus: Nymphaea
Subgenus: Nymphaea subg. Anecphya
Species:
N. elleniae
Binomial name
Nymphaea elleniae
S.W.L.Jacobs2
Nymphaea elleniae is native to North Queensland, Australia, and Papua New Guinea2

Nymphaea elleniae is a species of waterlily native to Papua New Guinea, and North Queensland, Australia.2

Description

Vegetative characteristics

Nymphaea elleniae is a perennial plant with elongate rhizomes. Mature floating leaves are 22 cm long, and 18 cm wide.3

Generative characteristics

The flowers, which are only open during daytime, can extend up to 20 cm above the water surface. The four 7 cm long sepals have an acute to obtuse apex. The 25 lanceolate petals have an acute to obtuse apex. The androecium consists of 100 stamens. The gynoecium consists of 11-22 carpels. The globose, 2.5 cm wide fruit bears numerous glabrous, elliptical, 1.75-2.5 mm long, 1-1.5 mm wide seeds.3

Reproduction

Generative reproduction

Flowering occurs from April to December.3

Taxonomy

Publication

It was first described by Surrey Wilfrid Laurance Jacobs in 1992.2

Type specimen

The type specimen was collected by S. Jacobs & J. Clarkson in Jardine River, Queensland, Australia on the 6th of August 1987.3

Placement within Nymphaea

It is placed in Nymphaea subgenus Anecphya.456

Etymology

The specific epithet elleniae refers to Ellen A. Jacobs, the daughter of Surrey Wilfrid Laurance Jacobs.3

Conservation

The NCA status of Nymphaea elleniae is Special Least Concern.1

Ecology

Habitat

It is found in up to 5 m deep waters.3

References

References

  1. Queensland Government. (2022c, March 8). Species profile — Nymphaea elleniae. Retrieved December 30, 2023, from https://apps.des.qld.gov.au/species-search/details/?id=7968
  2. "Nymphaea elleniae S.W.L.Jacobs". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 29 December 2023.
  3. Jacobs, S. W. L. (1992). "New species, lectotypes and synonyms of Australasian Nymphaea (Nymphaeaceae)." Telopea, 4(4), 635-641.
  4. Borsch, T., Löhne, C., & Wiersema, J. (2008). "Phylogeny and evolutionary patterns in Nymphaeales: integrating genes, genomes and morphology." Taxon, 57(4), 1052-4E.
  5. Löhne, C., Yoo, M. J., Borsch, T., Wiersema, J., Wilde, V., Bell, C. D., ... & Soltis, P. S. (2008). "Biogeography of Nymphaeales: extant patterns and historical events." Taxon, 57(4), 1123-19E.
  6. Loehne, C., Borsch, T., & Wiersema, J. H. (2007). "Phylogenetic analysis of Nymphaeales using fast-evolving and noncoding chloroplast markers." Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 154(2), 141-163.