Nymphaea nouchali var. ovalifolia is a variety of the water lily species Nymphaea nouchali Burm.f. native to the region spanning from West Tanzania to South Africa.
Description Vegetative characteristics Nymphaea nouchali var. ovalifolia is an annual or perennial, aquatic herbNymphaea nouchali var. ovalifolia (Conard) Verdc. (n.d.). African Plant Database. Retrieved December 9, 2024, from https://africanplantdatabase.ch/en/nomen/specie/18274/nymphaea-nouchali-var-ovalifolia-conard-verdc with narrowly elliptic, 25 cm long, and 14.7 cm wide leaves. The adaxial leaf surface displays irregular brown patterns, and the abaxial leaf surface is plain green.Conard, H. S. (2015). The Waterlilies: A Monograph of the Genus Nymphaea (Classic Reprint). pp. 150-151. USA: FB&C Limited. Generative characteristics The deep blue flowers have acuminate sepals and petals. The sepals are 4 cm long, and 1.3 cm wide.
Taxonomy Publication It was first described by Henry Shoemaker Conard as Nymphaea ovalifolia Conard in 1905. Later, it was included in the species Nymphaea nouchali Burm.f. as the variety Nymphaea nouchali var. ovalifolia (Conard) Verdc. published by Bernard Verdcourt in 1989.
Etymology The varietal name ovalifolia, from the Latin ovali- meaning oval and -folia meaning leaf, means "oval leaved".Ledebouria ovalifolia | PlantZAfrica. (n.d.). Retrieved January 16, 2024, from https://pza.sanbi.org/ledebouria-ovalifoliaLedebouria ovalifolia | CasaBio. (n.d.). Retrieved January 16, 2024, from https://casabio.org/taxa/ledebouria-ovalifolia
Ecology Role as host plant Nymphaea nouchali var. ovalifolia is a host plant of the beetle species Donaciasta goeckei.Jolivet, P., Santiago-Blay, J. A., & Schmitt, M. (2008). "Research on chrysomelidae: Volume 2." p. 170. BRILL.
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