Nymphaea nouchali Burm. f.
var. caerulea (Savigny) Verdc.

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Photo: Bart Wursten
Backpackers and Overlanders Lodge, Epworth Harare.

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Synonyms:	Nymphaea caerulea Savigny Nymphaea capensis Thunb. Nymphaea stellata sensu Harv.
Common names:	Waterlily (English)
Frequency:
Status:	Native
Description:	Aquatic perennial with floating leaves grow from a tuberous rhizome. Leaves sub-orbicular to elliptic, deeply cordate and peltate at the base; upper surface green and smooth; lower surface green,red or purple with more or less prominently raised venation; margin entire or slightly undulate towards the base. Flowers, 6-20 cm in diameter, blue, pinkish or rarely white, on fleshy stems, usually held erect above the surface of the water; sepals normally 4; petals 12-24 as long as the sepals; stamens 30 to more than 100, prolonged beyond the anthers by a white appendage.
Notes:	See var. petersiana for comparison.
Derivation of specific name:
Habitat:	In lakes, pools and slow flowing rivers.
Flowering time:	All year, but especially Feb - May
Worldwide distribution:	Widespread from Egypt, throughout tropical Africa to KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.
Botswana distribution:	N,SW
Growth form(s):	Aquatic.
Endemic status:
Red data list status:
Insects associated with this species:
Spot characters:	Display spot characters for this species
Literature:	Bandeira, S., Bolnick, D. & Barbosa, F. (2007). Wild Flowers of Southern Mozambique Universidade Eduardo Mondlane, Maputo, Mozambique Page 80. as Nymphaea nouchali (Includes a picture). Baumann, G. (2005). Photographic Guide to Wildflowers of Malawi Wildlife and Environmental Society of Malawi Pages 26 - 27. as Nymphaea caerulea (Includes a picture). Chapano, C. & Mamuto, M. (2003). Plants of the Chimanimani District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 40. Heath, A. & Heath, R. (2009). Field Guide to the Plants of Northern Botswana including the Okavango Delta Kew Publishing Page 55. (Includes a picture). Linley, K. & Baker, B. (1972). Flowers of the Veld Bundu Series Longman Zimbabwe Page 34. As Nymphaea caerulea (Includes a picture). Mapaura, A. & Timberlake, J. (eds) (2004). A checklist of Zimbabwean vascular plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 33 Sabonet, Pretoria and Harare Page 64. Mendonça, F.A. (1960). Nymphaeaceae Flora Zambesiaca 1(1) Pages 177 - 179. As Nymphaea capensis and Nymphaea caerulea Setshogo, M.P. (2005). Preliminary checklist of the plants of Botswana. Sabonet Report no. 37. Sabonet, Pretoria and Gaborone Page 90. Timberlake, J.R. & Childes, S.L. (2004). Biodiversity of the Four Corners Area: Technical Reviews Volume Two (Chapter 5-15) Appendix 5-1: Plant Checklist Occasional Publications in Biodiversity 15 Page 220. also as Nymphaea capensis

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Flora of Caprivi: Nymphaea nouchali var. caerulea
Flora of Malawi: Nymphaea nouchali var. caerulea
Flora of Mozambique: Nymphaea nouchali var. caerulea
Flora of Zambia: Nymphaea nouchali var. caerulea
Flora of Zimbabwe: Nymphaea nouchali var. caerulea

External websites:

African Plants: A Photo Guide (Senckenberg): Nymphaea nouchali
African Plant Database: Nymphaea nouchali
BHL (Biodiversity Heritage Library): Nymphaea nouchali
EOL (Encyclopedia of Life): Nymphaea nouchali
GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility): Nymphaea nouchali
Google: Web - Images - Scholar
iNaturalist: Nymphaea nouchali
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Nymphaea nouchali
JSTOR Plant Science: Nymphaea nouchali
Mansfeld World Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops: Nymphaea nouchali
Plants of the World Online: Nymphaea nouchali
Tropicos: Nymphaea nouchali
Wikipedia: Nymphaea nouchali