Nymphaea kakaduensis

Nymphaea kakaduensis is a perennial aquatic plant with a globose rhizome. The petiolate, oval to oval-elliptic, 15.6-17.4 cm long, and 11.8-16.6 cm wide leaves have an entire, slightly undulate, or sinuate-crenate margin. The adaxial leaf surface is dark green, and the abaxial leaf surface is dark purple. The petiole is brownish-green, and exhibits fused stipules.^[2]

The 5.5–10.5 cm wide, fragrant, cupped flowers extend above the water surface. The white, pink, brown, or green sepals are 3–6 cm long, and 1–2.6 cm wide. The 14-27 ovate–elliptic, white, more rarely blue, or pinkish petals are 2–5 cm long and 0.6–2 cm wide. The androecium consists of 80-200 yellow stamens. The gynoecium consists of 14-30 carpels. The globose, 2–4 cm wide fruit bears 1.8-2.1 mm long, 1.2-1.3 mm wide, dark brown to dark olive seeds with a longitudinal ridge.^[2]

Flowering and fruiting occurs from April to June.^[2]

It was first described by Carl Barre Hellquist, Andre Leu, and Michael L. Moody in 2021.^[1]

The type specimen of Nymphaea kakaduensis was collected by Carl Barre Hellquist, Andre Leu, and Fred Baird in a billabong at the upper end of Jim Jim Creek within Kakadu National Park, Northern Territory, Australia on the 29th of April 2011.^[2]

The specific epithet kakaduensis references Kakadu National Park, the native habitat and only known location of Nymphaea kakaduensis.^[2]

It has a limited distribution, but is not threatened, as it occurs in a protected area.^[2]

It is found in billabongs,^[3][2] and is associated with Nymphaea pubescens, Nymphaea violacea, and Nymphaea macrosperma.^[2]