- Source: Nymphaea francae
Nymphaea francae is a species of waterlily endemic to Brazil.
Description
= Vegetative characteristics
=Nymphaea francae is an aquatic herb. It has ovoid tubers, which are not stoloniferous. The floating leaves have 5–7.2 mm wide, greenish-brown, pubescent to glabrescent petioles with four primary central, and four secondary peripheral air canals. The leaf blade is ovate and has an entire, flat margin. It has actinodromous leaf venation.
= Generative characteristics
=The nocturnal flowers float on the water surface. They have a pubescent to glabrescent, non-brittle, greenish-brown peduncle with six central primary and twelve secondary peripheral air canals. The petals are white.
Reproduction
= Vegetative reproduction
=Both stolons and proliferating pseudanthia are absent.
= Generative reproduction
=Neither fruits nor seeds have been observed.
Taxonomy
It was first described by C.T.Lima and Ana Maria Giulietti in 2021.
= Type specimen
=The type specimen was collected by C.T. Lima and L. Lima in a lagoon on Bananal Island in the Tocantins, Brazil at a depth of 1−3 m. It is only known from the type material.
= Placement within Nymphaea
=It is placed in Nymphaea subg. Hydrocallis.
Etymology
The specific epithet francae honours Prof. Dr. Flávio França of the State University of Feira de Santana, Brazil.
Ecology
= Habitat
=It occurs in aquatic habitats of the central Brazilian Savanna.