Nymphaea × marliacea is an invasiveBora, L. S., & Padial, A. A. (2023). A global review on invasive traits of macrophytes and their link to invasion success. Acta Limnologica Brasiliensia, 35, e20. artificial waterlily hybrid of Nymphaea mexicana, Nymphaea alba and or Nymphaea odorata. It has been naturalised in Australia, New Zealand, North America, and Europe.

Description

Vegetative characteristics Nymphaea × marliacea is a perennial, aquatic, rhizomatous,Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria. (n.d.). Nymphaea ×marliacea W.Wildsm. VicFlora Flora of Victoria. Retrieved June 3, 2025, from https://vicflora.rbg.vic.gov.au/flora/taxon/00fe7238-8d13-4c23-adaf-545b1780469d herbNatural Resources Conservation Service U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. (n.d.). Nymphaea ×marliacea Marliac [alba × mexicana]. USDA Plants Database. Retrieved June 3, 2025, from https://plants.sc.egov.usda.gov/plant-profile/NYMA2 with large, branching, stoloniferous, horizontal, 35 mm wide rhizomes. The glabrous,Sagolsem, A. D., & Thongam, B. (2014). Two new taxa of Nymphaea (Nymphaeaceae) from Manipur, India. Phytotaxa, 188(2), 112-117. suborbicular floating leaf with a deep basal sinus is up to 20 cm wide. The leaves can extend beyond the water surface under crowded conditions.Mitra RL (1990) Nymphaeaceae. In: Nayar MP, Thothathri K, Sanjappa M (eds) Fascicles of flora of India, Fascicles 20. Botanical Survey of India, Kolkata, p. 24. The upper leaf surface shows a reddish brown marbled pattern, and the lower leaf surface displays purple spotting. The glabrous petiole reaches lengths of over 1 m. Generative characteristics The large, often fragrant, diurnal, white, or faintly pink or yellow, up to 20 cm wide flowers float on the water surface or extend beyond it.Schou, J. C., Moeslund, B., Weyer, K. v. d., Wiegleb, G., Lansdown, R. V., Holm, P., Baastrup-Spohr, L., Sand-Jensen, K. (2023). Aquatic Plants of Northern and Central Europe Including Britain and Ireland. p. 70. United States: Princeton University Press. The peduncle may reach lengths over 1 m. The flower has four sepals. The androecium consists of 50 stamens. Flowering occurs from May to October.Neue allgemeine deutsche Garten- und Blumenzeitung. p. 231. (1888). Germany: R. Kittler.

Reproduction It is a (generally) sterile hybrid.Conard, Henry S. (1905). The waterlilies: a monograph of the genus Nymphaea (pp. 221, 230). Pub. by the Carnegie Institution of Washington.Nymphaea “Marliacea chromatella.” (n.d.). Missouri Botanical Garden. Retrieved June 4, 2025, from https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?taxonid=261590&isprofile=1&gen=Nymphaea It can reproduce vegetatively through stolons.

Taxonomy It was described by Joseph Bory Latour-Marliac in 1888.Nymphaea marliacea Lat.-Marl. (n.d.). International Plant Names Index. Retrieved June 3, 2025, from https://www.ipni.org/n/605619-1The Garden: an illustrated weekly journal of gardening in all its branches (Vol. 33, p. 292). (1871). https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/25616364 The taxon authority appears to be disputed. Some sources give Joseph Bory Latour-Marliac as the taxon author, while others give William Wildsmith,Nymphaea ×marliacea Wildsmith. (n.d.). GBIF | Global Biodiversity Information Facility. Retrieved June 3, 2025, from https://www.gbif.org/species/3697259 or William Watson as the taxon author.Dana, E. D., Verloove, F., Guillot Ortiz, D., Rodríguez-Marzal, J. L., Paredes-Carretero, F., Juan Bañón, J. L., ... & Garcia de Lomas, J. (2017). First record of Nymphaea× marliacea Lat.-Marl.‘Rosea’in the Iberian Peninsula: identification based on morphological features and molecular techniques. Bouteloua, 28, 132-139. However, W. Watson credited Joseph Bory Latour-Marliac with the name and its description, and therefore the name should be assigned to Latour-Marliac. Nymphaea × marliacea has not been typified. It is placed in the subgenus Nymphaea subg. Nymphaea.USDA, Agricultural Research Service, National Plant Germplasm System. 2025. Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN Taxonomy). National Germplasm Resources Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland. URL: https://npgsweb.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/taxon/taxonomydetail?id=508109. Accessed 3 June 2025. Etymology The hybrid name marliacea refers to the French horticulturist Joseph Bory Latour-Marliac (1830-1911). Hybridisation A genetic analysis indicates it is closer to Nymphaea alba than to Nymphaea odorata.Reid, M. K., Sutton, G. F., Coetzee, J. A., Gettys, L. A., & Hill, M. P. (2024). Distribution and host preference of a potential biocontrol agent with a new association for the alien water lily Nymphaea mexicana in South Africa. African Journal of Aquatic Science, 49(2), 132-144. A genetic analysis of ISSR data suggests that Nymphaea × marliacea, together with Nymphaea alba, forms a separate group from Nymphaea mexicana, Nymphaea odorata, and Nymphaea tetragona. The Nymphaea × marliacea-group is subdivided into two subgroups: Nymphaea × marliacea 'Chromatella' and Nymphaea × marliacea 'Albida' together with Nymphaea alba.Reid, M. K., Paterson, I. D., Coetzee, J. A., Gettys, L. A., & Hill, M. P. (2023). Know thy enemy: investigating genetic contributions from putative parents of invasive Nymphaea mexicana hybrids in South Africa as part of efforts to develop biological control. Biological Control, 184, 105291.

Distribution It has been introduced to Australia,A. Messina & P.G. Kodela. Nymphaea x marliacea, in P.G. Kodela (ed.), Flora of Australia. Australian Biological Resources Study, Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water: Canberra. https://profiles.ala.org.au/opus/foa/profile/Nymphaea%20x%20marliacea [Date Accessed: 03 June 2025] the United Kingdom,Nymphaea marliacea Latour-Marl. (n.d.). NBN Atlas. Retrieved June 3, 2025, from https://species.nbnatlas.org/species/NBNSYS0000004978 Italy,Nymphaea ×marliacea Lat.-Marl. (n.d.). Portale Della Flora D’Italia - Portal to the Flora of Italy. Retrieved June 3, 2025, from https://dryades.units.it/floritaly/index.php?procedure=taxon_page&tipo=all&id=10279 Spain, Hungary,Balogh, L., Dancza, I., & Király, G. (2004). Actual list of neophytes in Hungary and their classification according to their success. Biological invasions in Hungary–Invasive plants, 61-92. Malta,Mifsud, S. (n.d.). Nymphaea × marliacea (Marlia’s Waterlily). MaltaWildPlants.com - the Online Flora of the Maltese Islands. Retrieved June 4, 2025, from https://www.maltawildplants.com/NYMP/Nymphaea_marliacea.php Canada,Nymphaea ×marliacea Latour-Marliac. (n.d.). Database of Vascular Plants of Canada (VASCAN). Retrieved June 4, 2025, from https://data.canadensys.net/vascan/taxon/33343 the USA,Water lilies. (n.d.). Missouri Department of Conservation. Retrieved June 4, 2025, from https://mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/field-guide/water-lilies and New Zealand.Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research. (n.d.). Nymphaea alba × mexicana. Biota of NZ. Retrieved June 4, 2025, from https://biotanz.landcareresearch.co.nz/scientific-names/8620ffca-d2dc-4515-92b7-f923b704fe0d

Invasiveness In Victoria, Australia it is regarded as somewhat invasive and it shows a slow dispersal rate.White, M., Cheal, D., Carr, G. W., Adair, R., Blood, K. and Meagher, D. (2018). Advisory list of environmental weeds in Victoria. Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research Technical Report Series No. 287. Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning, Heidelberg, Victoria. Naturalised Nymphaea × marliacea plants grow vigorously and can cover almost the entire surface of ponds.Brusa, G. (2015, July 30). Pistia stratiotes e Nymphaea x marliacea. Flora Insubrica. Retrieved June 4, 2025, from http://www.guidobrusa.info/2015/07/pistia-stratiotes-e-nymphaea-x-marliacea.htmlNymphaea × marliacea Lat.-Marl. (n.d.). Biodiversità in Lombardia. Retrieved June 4, 2025, from https://www.biodiversita.lombardia.it/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=316:c04-nymphaea&catid=89:flora The naturalised plants appear to be planted deliberately and may not be able to disperse by themselves. Small populations may be eradicated through the removal of the rhizomes, but larger populations may require repeated mowing with specialised boats.

Habitat It has been found growing in ponds, lakes, and canals.Coloured Water-lily - Nymphaea marliacea. (n.d.). NatureSpot. Retrieved June 4, 2025, from https://www.naturespot.org/species/coloured-water-lily

Ecology It is a host plant to the phytopathogenic fungus Rhamphospora nymphaeae.The Plant Disease Reporter. p. 118. (1928). United States: Bureau of Plant Industry, U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Cultivation It is one of the most commonly cultivated hybrids. It is a cold-hardy plant with vigorous growth.Alderton, D. (2019). Encyclopedia of Aquarium and Pond Fish. p. 378. United Kingdom: Dorling Kindersley Limited. It grows well in 0.5–1.5 m deep ponds.Henkel, F., Rehnelt, F., Dittmann, L. (1907). Das Buch der Nymphaeaceen oder Seerosengewächse. p. 112. Germany: Henkel.

References