Nymphaea mexicana

Nymphaea mexicana is a species of aquatic plant that is native to the Southern United States and Mexico as far south as Michoacán.[1][2] Common names include yellow water lily, Mexican water lily and banana water lily.

Nymphaea mexicana
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Order: Nymphaeales
Family: Nymphaeaceae
Genus: Nymphaea
Species:
N. mexicana
Binomial name
Nymphaea mexicana
Synonyms

Castalia flava (Leitn. ex A.Gray) Greene
Castalia mexicana (Zucc.) J.M.Coult.
Leuconymphaea flava (Leitn. ex A.Gray) Kuntze
Leuconymphaea mexicana (Zucc.) Kuntze
Nymphaea flava Leitn. ex A.Gray
Nymphaea lutea Treat
Nymphaea planchonii Casp. ex Conard[1]

Role as invasive species

Nymphaea mexicana is perhaps best known as a noxious weed in wetlands outside of its native range, such as California. It can easily invade similar aquatic ecosystems when it is introduced. The plant is attractive and has been introduced to new habitats for ornamental purposes.

Description

Nymphaea mexicana has thick rhizomes and long, spongy creeping stolons which bear bunches of small yellow roots that resemble miniature bananas. The plant can grow from seedlings or send out new shoots from its stolons. The large, flat leaves are green with purple or brown patterning, and float on the surface of the water. The floating lotus flowers have yellow petals and pointed, star-like, greenish-yellow sepals. The flowers close at night.[3]

A close-up of the flower

The plant flowers during the summer, and also during spring and fall in warmer areas. Seeds are contained in green berries which grow underwater. It grows in marshes and readily invades canals and other shallow waterways, sometimes becoming a nuisance.

Cytology

The chromosome count is n = 28. The genome size is 586.80 Mb.[4]

Ecology

Herbivory

The Canvasback duck, Aythya valisineria, feeds on the banana-like roots of the plant.[5]

References
  1. "Nymphaea mexicana". Germplasm Resources Information Network. Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture. Retrieved 2010-04-19.
  2. Biota of North America Program 2014 county distribution map
  3. Flora of North America, Nymphaea mexicana Zuccarini, 1832.Banana water-lily, yellow water-lily, herbe au coeur
  4. Chen, F., Liu, X., Yu, C., Chen, Y., Tang, H., & Zhang, L. (2017). "Water lilies as emerging models for Darwin’s abominable mystery." Horticulture research, 4.
  5. Mowbray, Thomas B. (2020-03-04). "Canvasback (Aythya valisineria)". Birds of the World. Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Retrieved 2021-04-20.

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