Two new taxa of Nymphaea (Nymphaeaceae) from Manipur, India

Abstract

Two new taxa of Nymphaea, Nymphaea manipurensis and N. manipurensis var. versicolor are described from Manipur, India. They resemble N. tetragona Georgi in their tetragonal-shaped receptacle, but are easily distinguished from the latter by their partial apocarpy. In being partly apocarpous and having purplish leaf undersurfaces and erect rhizomes, they are similar to N. nouchali Burm. f. A comparison of these two taxa with N. nouchali is provided, along with a key to all Nymphaea known from India. The two new taxa have very similar characters, but differ in minor characteristics, and thus one is treated as a variety of the new species.