Nymphaea jacobsii subsp. toomba

Nymphaea jacobsii subsp. toomba is a subspecies of Nymphaea jacobsii endemic to Queensland, Australia.

Description

Vegetative characteristics

Nymphaea jacobsii subsp. toomba is a rhizomatous, annual or perennial herb with a globose to elongate, up to 25 cm long rhizome. The suborbicular to broadly elliptic, petiolate, stipulate leaf with a finely dentate margin is 29–75 cm long, and 27–35 cm wide.

Generative characteristics

The relatively smaller, blue flowers have green, 4.2–8.5 cm long, and 4.2–6.0 cm wide sepals with an obtuse apex. The 12–20 lanceolate, white and blue petals with an acute apex are 5–8.5 cm long, and 2.5–4 cm wide. The androecium consists of 150–300 yellow stamens. The gynoecium consists of 12–25 carpels. The globose, (2.5–)4–7 cm wide fruit bears large, hairy, ovoid, 2.6–5(–6) mm long, and 2–3 mm wide seeds.

Taxonomy

It was described by Carl Barre Hellquist in 2011. The type specimen was collected by S. Jacobs and C. B. Hellquist in 'Toomba' Creek, North Kennedy, Queensland, Australia on the 11th of June 2007. It is placed in the subgenus Nymphaea subg. Anecphya.

Etymology

The subspecific epithet toomba refers to "Toomba", the property of Ernest and Robyn Bassingthwaighte, and honours their friendship with Hellquist.

Distribution

It is endemic to Queensland, Australia.

References