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Nymphaea jacobsii

Nymphaea jacobsii is a species of waterlily endemic to Queensland, Australia.

Last revised
Aug 9, 2026
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Nymphaea jacobsii
Special Least Concern (NCA)1
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Embryophytes
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Order: Nymphaeales
Family: Nymphaeaceae
Genus: Nymphaea
Subgenus: Nymphaea subg. Anecphya
Species:
N. jacobsii
Binomial name
Nymphaea jacobsii
Hellq.2
Subspecies2
Nymphaea jacobsii is endemic to Queensland, Australia2

Nymphaea jacobsii is a species of waterlily endemic to Queensland, Australia.2

Description

Vegetative characteristics

Nymphaea jacobsii is an annual or perennial aquatic plant with elongate to globose rhizomes. The broadly elliptic, 40 cm long, 35 cm wide, petiolate leaves have a dentate margin.3

Generative characteristics

The inodorous flowers extend up to 30 cm above the water surface. The sepals are 4.2–13 cm long, and 5.5 cm wide. The 12-24 white to deep blue, lanceolate petals are 1–11.5 cm long, and 2.5-5.5 cm wide. The androecium consists of 150-300 yellow stamens. The gynoecium consists of 12-25 carpels. The globose, 2.3–9 cm wide fruit bears numerous large, ovoid, 2.6–7 mm long and 2–3.5 mm wide seeds with 0.1-0.13 mm long trichomes.3

Taxonomy

Publication

It was first described by Carl Barre Hellquist in 2011.2

Type specimen

The Type specimen was collected by S. W. L. Jacobs and C. B. Hellquist in Lake Powlanthanga, Queensland, Australia on the 12th of June 2007.43

Subspecies

Two subspecies, namely Nymphaea jacobsii subsp. jacobsii, and Nymphaea jacobsii subsp. toomba Hellq., have been described.23

Placement within Nymphaea

It is placed in Nymphaea subgenus Anecphya.3

Natural hybridisation

A natural hybrid of Nymphaea jacobsii and Nymphaea violacea has been described, but not named.3

Etymology

It is named after Surrey Wilfrid Laurance Jacobs.3

Conservation

The NCA status of Nymphaea jacobsii is Special Least Concern (SL).1

Ecology

Habitat

It is found in lakes, and creeks.3

References

References

  1. Queensland Government. (2022f, March 8). Species profile — Nymphaea jacobsii. Retrieved January 2, 2024, from https://apps.des.qld.gov.au/species-search/details/?id=40536
  2. "Nymphaea jacobsii Hellq". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 2 January 2024.
  3. Jacobs, S. W., & Hellquist, C. B. (2011). "New species, possible hybrids and intergrades in Australian Nymphaea (Nymphaeaceae) with a key to all species." Telopea, 13(1-2), 233-243.
  4. Holotype of Nymphaea jacobsii Hellq. [family NYMPHAEACEAE]. (n.d.). JSTOR. Retrieved January 2, 2024, from https://plants.jstor.org/stable/10.5555/al.ap.specimen.nsw921933