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Nymphaea nouchali var. caerulea

(Savigny) Verdc. (1989)

This name is accepted

Kingdom: Viridiplantae Phylum: Magnoliophyta Class/Clade: Nymphaeopsida Order: Nymphaeales Family: Nymphaeaceae Genus: Nymphaea

blue waterlily, cape blue waterlily, egyptian lotus

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Description

Key Characters:

Growth Form:

Stems:

Roots:

Leaves:

Flowers:

Fruit:

Ploidy:

Habitat:

Elevation Range:

Historical Distribution

Images

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Synonyms (43)

Castalia caerulea (Savigny) Tratt. (1822)
Castalia capensis (Thunb.) J.Schust. (1907)
Castalia scutifolia Salisb. (1805)
Leuconymphaea berneriana (Planch.) Kuntze (1891)
Leuconymphaea caerulea (Savigny) Kuntze (1891)
Leuconymphaea emirnensis (Planch.) Kuntze (1891)
Nymphaea bernieriana Planch. (1853)
Nymphaea caerulea Savigny (1798)
Nymphaea caerulea var. albiflora Lovassy (1909)
Nymphaea caerulea var. eigii Warb. (1927)
Nymphaea caerulea var. versicolor T.Durand & H.Durand (1909)
Nymphaea calliantha Conard (1904)
Nymphaea calliantha var. nelsonii Burtt Davy (1924)
Nymphaea calliantha var. tenuis Conard (1904)
Nymphaea capensis Thunb. (1800)
Nymphaea capensis var. alba K.C.Landon (1984)
Nymphaea capensis var. madagascariensis (DC.) Conard (1905)
Nymphaea coerulea Andrews (1801)
Nymphaea cyclophylla R.E.Fr. (1914)
Nymphaea edgeworthii Lehm. (1852)
Nymphaea emirnensis Planch. (1853)
Nymphaea engleri Gilg (1908)
Nymphaea madagascariensis DC. (1821)
Nymphaea magnifica Gilg (1908)
Nymphaea mildbraedii Gilg (1908)
Nymphaea muschleriana Gilg (1908)
Nymphaea nubica Lehm. (1853)
Nymphaea radiata Bercht. & Opiz (1825)
Nymphaea scutifolia (Salisb.) DC. (1821)
Nymphaea spectabilis Gilg (1908)
Nymphaea sphaerantha Peter (1928)
Nymphaea stellata adscendens Casp. (1873)
Nymphaea stellata albida Casp. (1873)
Nymphaea stellata approximata Casp. (1873)
Nymphaea stellata coerulea Casp. (1873)
Nymphaea stellata distans Casp. (1873)
Nymphaea stellata f. caerulea (Savigny) Casp. (1873)
Nymphaea stellata immaculata Casp. (1873)
Nymphaea stellata lilacina Casp. (1873)
Nymphaea stellata maculata Casp. (1873)
Nymphaea stellata punctata Casp. (1873)
Nymphaea stellata spiralis Casp. (1873)
Nymphaea stellata vulgaris Casp. (1873)

Uses and Culture

USES

Natural History

Statewide Status

Naturalized

Island Status

Kaua'i Potentially naturalizing
O'ahu Only found in cultivation
Maui Potentially naturalizing
Hawai'i Unknown

Dispersal Agents

Water/Ocean

Pollinators

Specimens

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Bibliography

Name Published In: Fl. Trop. E. Africa, Nymphaeac.: 7 (1989)

Other References

Herbarium Pacificum Staff 1998:11 (NEWNAT/H, DESCR [as N. caerulea]); Staples & Herbst 2005:435 (KEY, DESCR); Verdcourt 1989 (Syn. N. caerulea = N. nouchali var. caerulea); Faccenda, Arthur, et al. 2025:196 (WM)

Occurrences

SNo. Scientific Name Locality Habitat Basis of Record Description Recorded By Record Number Island Source Date
1 Nymphaea nouchali var. caerulea West Maui, Lahaina District, Olowalu, in stagnant drainage channel, S of Luawai St Stagnant water drainage channel. Water allegedly spring fed, but one old time resident said the ditch was built before the 1950's by Pioneer Sugar Co. as a flood control measure. Preserved_Specimen Flowers above water surface, mostly blue but a few white individuals observed and a single magenta flower. However this population appears to consist of just a single taxon. A nearby resident said this infestation, which occurs over at least 100 m started as just a couple of plants. Oppenheimer, H.L. 62401 Maui BISH 2024-06-22
2 Nymphaea nouchali var. caerulea Waimea Audubon Center, Waimea Valley, Oahu, Hawaii Growing in pond near Dr. Orr's office, in ca. 3 feet of water. Preserved_Specimen Large bluish-purple flowers, open at 4:30 pm. Crago, L.M. 2005209 Oahu BISH 2005-10-18
3 Nymphaea nouchali var. caerulea Waimea Audubon Center, Waimea Valley, Oahu, Hawaii Growing in pond near Dr. Orr's office, in ca. 3 feet of water. Preserved_Specimen Large bluish-purple flowers, open at 4:30 pm. Crago, L.M. 2005209 Oahu BISH 2005-10-18
4 Nymphaea nouchali var. caerulea Waimea Audubon Center, Waimea Valley, Oahu, Hawaii Growing in pond near Dr. Orr's office, in ca. 3 feet of water. Preserved_Specimen Large bluish-purple flowers, open at 4:30 pm. Crago, L.M. 2005209 Oahu BISH 2005-10-18
5 Nymphaea nouchali var. caerulea Powerline trail. In a pond to the east of the road in a low point Degraded lowland wet forest, large areas of mixed alien grass/ shrubland. Clays and inundated soils. Dominated by Cyclosorus w/ Bolboschoenus, surrounded by Andropogon virginicus, Clidemia hirta, Cyathea copperiDicranopteris linearis, Nephrolepis, with Metrosideros polymorpha, Psidium cattleianum, Il Preserved_Specimen Pink petals w/ darker pink lateral lines. Pollen yellow, base of stamens yellow w/ pink apex and pink along dorsal side of stamens. Calyx green w/ pink margins, pink inside. Leaf green maroon on underside light green toward center, some dark red speckling above more near margin, margin purple. Flw w/ sweet Tangalin, N. 1695 Kauai BISH 2008-03-11
6 Nymphaea nouchali var. caerulea Hanalei National Wildlife Refuge, in pond on S side of wetland area Small waterlily growing with Cyperus sp., Schoenoplectus juncoides, Zizania latifolia, Brachiaria, Fimbristylis miliacea, Ludwigia, Commelina. Preserved_Specimen Flowers raised above water level ca 6 in., open at 10:45 am. Petals ca 24, purple. Sepals 4. Stamens yellow. Leaves glossy green, all chewed up (by birds?). Imada, C. 200026 Kauai BISH 2000-11-01
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