Nymphaea micrantha is a water lily belonging to the genus Nymphaea. It is native to the tropics of West Africa.
Botanical illustration of Nymphaea micrantha including a leaf with emerging plantlet, a unique feature of this species
Description
Its leaves are oval or round, 8-12 cm long, with a cluster of
bulbils on the top of the leaf stalk. Flowers can reach up to 10 cm in diameter, and appear from approximately September to October.[4] The plant usually grows to a height of 20–80 cm (8–32 inches). It cannot be grown
emersed.[5]
Reproduction
Vegetative reproduction
Foliar proliferation of Nymphaea micrantha Guill. & Perr.
New plantlets develop on the adaxial leaf surface through foliar proliferation. The development of those plantlets is halted, while the leaf is still attached. However, once the leaf is detached the plantlets develop fully.[6] In India, which is outside of this species natural range, it has been shown that Nymphaea micrantha predominantly reproduces asexually. In India it has been shown to lack any amount of genetic diversity.[7]
Cytology
The chromosome count is n = 14. The genome size is 889.98 Mb.[8]