About Nymphaea rubra Roxb. ex Andr.
Nymphaea rubra Roxb. ex Andr. has the following vegetative characteristics: its rhizomes measure 15.1 cm long and 7.9 cm wide. It produces petiolate, orbicular leaves that are 25–48 cm wide. The upper (adaxial) leaf surface ranges from bronzy red to dark green, while the lower (abaxial) leaf surface is dark purple. The leaf venation is very prominent, and the petiole can reach 140 cm in length. For its generative characteristics, its flowers are 15–25 cm wide, are pleasantly fragrant, and are held by a 116 cm long peduncle. It has four purplish-red oblong to lanceolate sepals, 12–20 narrowly oval petals with a rounded apex, 55 red stamens that form the androecium, and 16–21 carpels that form the gynoecium. Its fruit produces seeds that are 1.85 mm long and 1.6 mm wide. This species grows naturally in rivers, lakes, and ponds. Nymphaea rubra is generally stoloniferous for vegetative reproduction, but it can also reproduce via proliferating pseudanthia in rare cases. One recorded case of a proliferating pseudanthia developing on a cultivated Nymphaea rubra specimen was documented at the Botanical Garden of the University of Heidelberg, Germany in 1886. This species may also reproduce apomictically for generative reproduction. Its peduncles and seeds are used as food, and it is suitable for cultivation in aquaria.
