Nymphaea violacea

	Family:	Nymphaeaceae
	Distribution:	Northern Queensland, northern parts of the Northern Territory and the Kimberly region of Western Australia.
	Common Name:	Water lily
	Derivation of Name:	Nymphaea...from Greek nymphe; a nymph or bride violacea...from Latin violace, violet coloured, referring to the flowers
	Conservation Status:	Not considered to be at risk in the wild.

General Description:

Nymphaea violacea is a floating perennial herb growing from a rhizome in the mud of the pond base. Leaves are broadly egg-shaped to circular with a split at the base to the point of the stalk attachment, 6-29 cm x 7-23 cm, dark green above, purplish or paler green beneath, smooth. The leaf margins are wavy but not toothed.

Nymphaea violacea Photos: Keith Townsend

Flowers are borne on long stalks up to 30 cm above the water surface. They are 7-16 cm in diameter and violet, blue or white in colour.

The plant may be propagated from seed or division of the rhizomes.