Nuphar orbiculata is a species of rhizomatous aquatic plant native to the US-American states Alabama, Florida, and Georgia.
Description Vegetative characteristics Nuphar orbiculata is a herbaceous, perennial, aquatic plant.Small, J. K. (1896). Studies in the Botany of the Southeastern United States.-V. Bulletin of the Torrey Botanical Club, 23(4). http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/openurl?ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_id=http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/711509&rft_val_fmt=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:book&url_ver=z39.88-2004 The rhizomes are 7-8 cm wide.Nuphar orbiculata in Flora of North America @ efloras.org. (n.d.). Retrieved January 19, 2024, from http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=233500816 The petiolate, bright green, orbicular leaves are 20-45 cm long, and 20-45 cm wide. The abaxial surface is pubescent. The petioles are pubescent. Generative characteristics The flowers are 6 cm wide. The oblong-obovate sepals are 5 cm long. The stigmatic disk is 2 cm wide. The subglobose, 4-5 cm wide fruit bears ovoid, 4.5 mm long, ridged seeds.
Reproduction Generative reproduction Flowering and fruiting occurs in July.
Taxonomy Publication It was first described as Nymphaea orbiculata Small by John Kunkel Small in 1896. Later, it was included in the genus Nuphar Sm. as Nuphar orbiculata (Small) Standl. published by Paul Carpenter Standley in 1931.
Etymology The specific epithet orbiculata means round or disc-shaped.Burnham, R. J. (2013, May 29). Celastrus orbiculatus | CLIMBERS. Retrieved January 19, 2024, from https://climbers.lsa.umich.edu/celastrus-orbiculatus/Cotyledon orbiculata | PlantZAfrica. (n.d.). Retrieved January 19, 2024, from https://pza.sanbi.org/cotyledon-orbiculataBayton, R. (2020). Practical Uses of Botanical Latin. In The Gardener's Botanical: An Encyclopedia of Latin Plant Names - with More than 5,000 Entries (pp. 22-318). Princeton: Princeton University Press. https://doi.org/10.1515/9780691209135-007
Conservation The NatureServe conservation status is T3 Vulnerable.
Ecology Habitat It occurs in stagnant waters of blackwater rivers, streams, lakes,Nuphar orbiculata Aquatic Vegetation. (n.d.). NatureServe. Retrieved January 19, 2024, from https://explorer.natureserve.org/Taxon/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.688105/Nuphar_orbiculata_Aquatic_Vegetation and acidic lime sink ponds.Nuphar orbiculata - Species Page - APA: Alabama Plant Atlas. (n.d.). Retrieved January 19, 2024, from http://www.floraofalabama.org/Plant.aspx?id=2703
References