Nymphaea spp. Nymphaeaceae

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Present on Pacific Islands?  yes

Primarily a threat at high elevations?  no

Common name(s): [more details]

English: water lily

Maori (Cook Islands): riri moe vai, riri vai

Habit:  aquatic herb

Description:  "Herbs with thick rhizomes; leaves alternate, appearing spirally arranged, arising from the rhizome, the blade simple, laterally attached or attached some distance from the margin of a sinus, usually floating; flowers long-pedunculate, solitary, arising from the rhizome; sepals usually 4, greenish; petals numerous, pink, white or variously colored, conspicuous; stamens numerous, transitional with the petals, the filaments flattened (petaloid); pistil 1, the ovary with several to many carpels and locules; stigmas several to many, broad, petaloid; fruit a baccate capsule, many-seeded, tardily dehiscent"  (Welsh, 1998; p. 205).

Nymphea capensis Thunberg:  "Herb, perennial, aquatic, rooting in the mud and forming tubers.  Leaves simple, alternate, leaf blade heart-shaped to nearly round, 16-25 cm across on a long petiole, floating on the surface of the water.  Flowers anytime during the year; flowers solitary on long stalks rising above the water.  Corolla of numerous, free, lanceolate, blue, white, pink, or red petals 4-7 cm long, surrounding the numerous yellow stamens and staminodes.  Fruit a many-seeded spongy berry, developing underwater after the passé flower becomes submerged"  (Whistler, 2000; p. 331).

Habitat/ecology:  Aquatic: Freshwater lakes, ponds, ditches, canals, marshes, and slow-moving streams.  In Fiji, "locally abundantly naturalized in roadside ditches, etc."  (Smith, 1981; pp. 146-147).

Propagation:  Seed, rhizomes

Native range:  Africa

Presence:

Pacific
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Northern Mariana Islands	Saipan Island		Swarbrick, John T. (1997) (p. 94) ?
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	‘Atiu Island		McCormack, Gerald (2008) N. capensis
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Mangaia Island		McCormack, Gerald (2008) N. capensis
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Mangaia Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2002) (p. 87)
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Ma‘uke Island		McCormack, Gerald (2008) N. capensis
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Ma‘uke Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2002) (p. 93)
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Rarotonga Island	cultivated	McCormack, Gerald (2008) N. capensis
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Rarotonga Island	introduced cultivated	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2002) (p. 69)
Ecuador (Galápagos Islands) Santa Cruz Group	Santa Cruz Island	introduced cultivated	Charles Darwin Foundation (2008) Nymphaea capensis var. zanzibarensis
Federated States of Micronesia Kosrae Island	Kosrae Island		Lorence, David H./Flynn, Tim (2005) (p. 19) Nymphia sp.
Federated States of Micronesia Pohnpei Islands	Pohnpei Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 76)
Federated States of Micronesia Pohnpei Islands	Pohnpei Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1946) (voucher ID: BISH 649859) Taxon name on voucher: Nymphaea (Genus of Nymphaeaceae)
Fiji Fiji Islands	Viti Levu Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Smith, Albert C. (1981) (p. 147) N. capensis and var. rosea. Vouchers cited: DA 17323, DA 957
Fiji Fiji Islands	Viti Levu Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1969) (voucher ID: BISH 33714) Taxon name on voucher: Nymphaea capensis Thunb.
Fiji Fiji Islands	Viti Levu Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1969) (voucher ID: BISH 698743) Taxon name on voucher: Nymphaea capensis Thunb.
French Polynesia Society Islands	Huahine Island	introduced cultivated	Florence, J. (2004) (p. 324) N. nouchali N.L. Burman var. caerulea (M.J.C.L. Savigny) B. Verdcourt
French Polynesia Society Islands	Moorea Island	introduced cultivated	Florence, J. (2004) (pp. 323-324) Nymphea lotus L., Nymphea x baubenyana W.T. Baxter ex C.G.B. Daubeny
French Polynesia Society Islands	Moorea Island		University of California (2006) Nymphea capensis
French Polynesia Society Islands	Raiatea (Havai) Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Welsh, S. L. (1998) (p. 205) N. capensis: Voucher cited: Moore 191, BRY 26397; N. lotus: Voucher cited: Moore 191, BRY 26326
French Polynesia Society Islands	Raiatea (Havai) Island	introduced cultivated	Florence, J. (2004) (pp. 323-324) N. lotus L.
French Polynesia Society Islands	Taha‘a Island	introduced cultivated	Welsh, S. L. (1998) (p. 205) N. capensis: Voucher cited: Grant 5187
French Polynesia Society Islands	Tahiti Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Welsh, S. L. (1998) (p. 205) N. lotus, N. capensis: Voucher cited: Grant 5187
French Polynesia Society Islands	Tahiti Island	introduced cultivated	Florence, J. (2004) (pp. 323-325) N. lotus L., N. nouchali N.L. Burman var. caerulea (M.J.C.L. Savigny) B. Verdcourt, N. x baubenyana W.T. Baxter ex C.G.B. Daubeny
French Polynesia Society Islands	Tahiti Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1931) (voucher ID: BISH 18498) Taxon name on voucher: Nymphaea rubra Roxb.
French Polynesia Society Islands	Tupai (Tubai) Island	introduced	Sachet, M.-H. (1983) (p. 17)
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island	introduced invasive	Stone, Benjamin C. (1970) (p. 276)
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 76)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Hawai‘i (Big) Island	introduced invasive	Herbarium Pacificum Staff (1998) (p. 11) N. caerulea Savigny; voucher cited: A. Engilis, Jr. & F.A. Reed 92-12 (BISH, US)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Kaua‘i Island	introduced invasive	Herbarium Pacificum Staff (1998) (p. 11) N. capensis var. zanzibarensis (Caspary) Conard; voucher cited: L. Hume 378 (BISH, PTBG)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Kaua‘i Island	introduced invasive	Staples, George W./Imada, Clyde T./Herbst, Derral R. (2003) (pp. 15-16) N. capensis Thunb., voucher cited: C. Imada, T. Flynn, M. Silbernagle & T. Alexander 2000-26 (BARC, BISH)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Maui Island	introduced invasive	Oppenheimer, Hank L. (2003) (p. 17) Nymphaea x daubenyana W. T. Baxter; West Maui. Vouchers cited: Oppenheimer H129901 (BISH), Oppenheimer H40139 (PTBG)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	O‘ahu Island	introduced invasive	Staples, George W./Imada, Clyde T./Herbst, Derral R. (2003) (p. 16) Nymphaea lotus L., vouchers cited: V. Daubenspeck s.n. (BISH 687341), C. Imada, L. Roth, M. Silbernagle 2000-8 (BISH), C. Imada, L. Roth, M. Silbernagle 2000-9 (BISH), C. Imada 2000-16 (BARC, BISH), C. Imada 2000-17 (BARC, BISH)
Nauru Nauru Island	Nauru Island	introduced cultivated	Thaman, R. R./Fosberg, F. R./Manner, H. I./Hassall, D. C. (1994) (p. 175) Vouchers cited: Fosberg 58684 (US), Thaman & Manner 251 (SUVA)
New Caledonia New Caledonia Archipelago	Île Grande Terre	introduced cultivated	MacKee, H. S. (1994) (p. 107) Nymphea capensis Thunb.; voucher cited: MacKee 37358; Nymphea sp.; vouchers cited: Hoogland & Jérémie 12762, MacKee 46224
Palau Palau (main island group)	Babeldaob Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1978) (voucher ID: BISH 432365) Taxon name on voucher: Nymphaea (Genus of Nymphaeaceae)
Palau Palau (main island group)	Koror Island	introduced cultivated	Space, James C./Waterhouse, Barbara/Miles, Joel E./Tiobech, Joseph/Rengulbai, Kashgar (2003) (p. 81)
Palau Palau (main island group)	Koror Island		Lorence, David H./Flynn, Tim (2005) (p. 16)
Palau Palau (main island group)	Koror Island		Beleu National Museum (Republic of Palau. Koror.) (1968) (voucher ID: BNM 582) Taxon name on voucher: Nymphaea spp.
Samoa Western Samoa Islands	Upolu Island	introduced cultivated	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2002) (p. 67)
Solomon Islands Solomon Islands	Solomon Islands		Wairiu, M./Wagatora, D. (2002) N. gigantea
Tonga Tongatapu Group	Tongatapu Island	introduced cultivated	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2001) (p. 54)

Pacific Rim
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Cambodia Cambodia	Cambodia (Kingdom of)	introduced invasive	Waterhouse, D. F. (1993) (pp. 67, 78) N. lotus
Malaysia Malaysia	Malaysia (country of)	introduced invasive	Waterhouse, D. F. (1993) (pp. 67, 78) N. lotus
Negara Brunei Darussalam Brunei	Brunei (Negara Brunei Darussalam)	introduced invasive	Waterhouse, D. F. (1993) (pp. 67, 78) N. lotus
Singapore Singapore	Singapore (Republic of)	introduced invasive	Waterhouse, D. F. (1993) (pp. 67, 78) N. lotus
Thailand Thailand	Thailand (Kingdom of)	introduced invasive	Waterhouse, D. F. (1993) (pp. 67, 78) N. lotus
Vietnam Vietnam	Vietnam (Socialist Republic of)	introduced invasive	Waterhouse, D. F. (1993) (pp. 67, 78) N. lotus

Indian Ocean
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Australia (Indian Ocean offshore islands) Christmas Island Group	Christmas Island	introduced cultivated	Swarbrick, J. T. (1997) (p. 121)

Additional information:
Photo and additional information at the Environment Bay of Plenty, New Zealand, web site of the Bay of Plenty Regional Council.
Information on Nymphaea odorata from the Global Invasive Species Database.

Additional online information about Nymphaea spp. is available from the Hawaiian Ecosystems at Risk project (HEAR).

Information about Nymphaea spp. as a weed (worldwide references) may be available from the Global Compendium of Weeds (GCW).

Taxonomic information about Nymphaea spp. may be available from the Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN).

References:

Beleu National Museum (Republic of Palau. Koror.). 1968. Voucher specimen #BNM582(Blackburn 206).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1931. Voucher specimen #BISH 18498 (M.L.Grant 5433).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1946. Voucher specimen #BISH 649859 (Fosberg, F.R. 26256).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1969. Voucher specimen #BISH 33714 (Smith, A.C. 16813).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1969. Voucher specimen #BISH 698743 (Smith, A.C. 16813).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1978. Voucher specimen #BISH 432365 (Stemmermann, R.L. 3417).

Charles Darwin Foundation. 2008. Database inventory of introduced plant species in the rural and urban zones of Galapagos. Charles Darwin Foundation, Galapagos, Ecuador.

Charles Darwin Research Station. 2005. CDRS Herbarium records.

Florence, J. 2004. Flore de la Polynésie française, Vol. 2. Paris. IRE Editions, Publications Scientifiques, Collection Faune et Flore Tropicales 41. 503 pp.

Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce. 1979. A geographical checklist of the Micronesian dicotyledonae. Micronesica 15:1-295.

Herbarium Pacificum Staff. 1998. New Hawaiian plant records for 1997. In: Evenhuis, Neal L. and Miller, Scott, E., eds. Records of the Hawaii Biological Survey for 1997. Part 2: Notes. Bishop Museum Occasional Papers. 56:8-14.

Lorence, David H./Flynn, Tim. 2005. Checklist of the plants of Kosrae. Unpublished checklist. National Tropical Botanical Garden, Lawai, Hawai‘i. 23 pp.

MacKee, H. S. 1994. Catalogue des plantes introduites et cultivées en Nouvelle-Calédonie. Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris, 164 p.

McCormack, Gerald. 2008. Cook Islands Biodiversity Database, Version 2007.2. Cook Islands Natural Heritage Trust, Rarotonga.

Oppenheimer, Hank L. 2003. New plant records from Maui and Hawai‘i Counties. In: Evenhuis, Neal L. and Eldredge, Lucius G., eds. Records of the Hawaii Biological Survey for 2001-2002. Part 1: Articles. Bishop Museum Occasional Papers. 73:3-30.

Sachet, M.-H. 1983. Botanique de l'ile de Tupai, Iles de la Societe. Atoll Research Bulletin No. 276. Smithsonian Institution, Washington. 26 pp. + photos.

Smith, Albert C. 1981. Flora Vitiensis nova: a new flora of Fiji. National Tropical Botanical Garden, Lawai, Kauai, Hawaii. Volume 2. 810 pp.

Space, James C./Flynn, Tim. 2001. Report to the Kingdom of Tonga on invasive plant species of environmental concern.  USDA Forest Service, Honolulu. 78 pp.

Space, James C./Flynn, Tim. 2002. Report to the Government of the Cook Islands on invasive plant species of environmental concern. USDA Forest Service, Honolulu. 146 pp.

Space, James C./Flynn, Tim. 2002. Report to the Government of Samoa on invasive plant species of environmental concern. USDA Forest Service, Honolulu. 83 pp.

Space, James C./Waterhouse, Barbara/Miles, Joel E./Tiobech, Joseph/Rengulbai, Kashgar. 2003. Report to the Republic of Palau on invasive plant species of environmental concern. USDA Forest Service, Honolulu. 174 pp.

Staples, George W./Imada, Clyde T./Herbst, Derral R. 2003. New Hawaiian plant records for 2001. In: Evenhuis, Neal L. and Eldredge, Lucius G., eds. Records of the Hawaii Biological Survey for 2001-2002. Part 2: Notes. Bishop Museum Occasional Papers. 74:7-21.

Stone, Benjamin C. 1970. The flora of Guam. Micronesica 6:1-659.

Swarbrick, J. T. 1997. Environmental weeds and exotic plants on Christmas Island, Indian Ocean: a report to Parks Australia. 101 pp. plus appendix.

Swarbrick, John T. 1997. Weeds of the Pacific Islands. Technical paper no. 209. South Pacific Commission, Noumea, New Caledonia. 124 pp.

Thaman, R. R./Fosberg, F. R./Manner, H. I./Hassall, D. C. 1994. The flora of Nauru. Smithsonian Institution, Washington. Atoll Research Bulletin 392:1-223.

University of California. 2006. Moorea Digital Flora Project (online resource).

Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. 1999. Manual of the flowering plants of Hawaii. Revised edition. Bernice P. Bishop Museum special publication. University of Hawai‘i Press/Bishop Museum Press, Honolulu. 1919 pp. (two volumes).

Wairiu, M./Wagatora, D. 2002. Solomon Islands national profile report on invasive alien species. Prepared for "The prevention and management of invasive alien species: forging cooperation throughout the Austral Pacific", Honolulu, Hawai'i, 15-17 October 2002.

Waterhouse, D. F. 1993. The major arthropod pests and weeds of agriculture in Southeast Asia. The Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research, Canberra. 141 pp.

Welsh, S. L. 1998. Flora Societensis: A summary revision of the flowering plants of the Society Islands. E.P.S. Inc., Orem, Utah. 420 pp.

Whistler, W. A. 1990. Ethnobotany of the Cook Islands: The plants, their Maori names, and their uses. Allertonia 5(4):347-424.