Dwarfed giant

8 years ago

I'm always a little reluctant to put specific names to waterlilies, even amongst the experts there's not a lot of agreement. This one is from a tuber collected in the wild, but unfortunately there's a 'big cloud' overshadowing the true identities of a lot of our natives. I just know that this one can grow quite huge, for a waterlily (Nymphaea). And I've always believed it was in fact Nymphaea gigantea. But according to the boffins that name is "unresolved".

Mine however, is in a very shaded pond. Doesn't flower a lot but still manages to produce a lot of seedlings. This year it's produced the smallest flower I've seen on it yet. Mind you, it's still the middle of winter here and with so much shade it's a wonder it's flowered at all. I'm working on making a new pond out in full sun where some of its seedlings, along with several other plants, will go.

The current shaded pond. The waterlily flower is the small white speck near the bottom of the photo, just slightly right of centre.

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Comments (6)

Ingrida
8 years ago
Lovely, little, gigantia. :>) Looks like a very shady, cool spot .
garyfla_gw
8 years ago
hi

WL certainly are hard to ID. They seem to occur on every continent and have been hybridized for many years even more confused than orchids?? lol.

One that flowers in shade is a keeper though lol My second pond which I call a "marsh" because it's shallow has come into dense shade due to trees maturing and some have went into a sharp decline so will have to experiment with others Spathiphyllum some Calatheas dwarf mexican petunias and swamp lily, Angelonia seem to be doing better since the other plants have declined Only the spath is flowering as well at least so far The main tree is spring deciduous so great variation of light over the year . I also keep adding epiphytes to the tree which is also lowering the light .lol

I originally built it to contain Madagascar lace plants which was a total bust lol

Good luck with your search for an ID !! gary
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tropicbreezent
Original Author
8 years ago
Inga, it is very cool and shady in there. The waterlily only went in there temporarily a couple of years ago, and it's still there temporarily, LOL.

Gary, some boffins got in amongst our native waterlilies here and ended up raising more questions than answers. This particular one I got from amongst very large growing ones so its dwarf habit will only be environmental. Will be interesting to see how the seedlings develop in full sun. It's currently in the pond with the Typhonodorum. What light makes it through the canopy gets further blocked by the Typhonodorum.
garyfla_gw
8 years ago
Hi

I reduced my lilly count to one because it will completely fill my 5x10 foot pool Gave some to a friend and it expanded to over 30 feet I put some offsets in a 150 gallon aquarium where the leaves turned a bright red looking much like lettuce I did remove all floating pads lasted several months with no flowers but a windstrom broke the tank.

I even tried some Victoria lilies but no room . My city has a water catchment area well over 80 feet in diameter less than two blocks from my house but they won't let me plant it."Will attract alligators""lol

Sorry don't understand the term" Boffins"??? gary
tropicbreezent
Original Author
8 years ago
This one has produced lots of seedlings in that pond but it's so heavily shaded they're all staying fairly small. Sounds like your city people are just trying to stop locals taking over the catchment, looks like a very hurriedly snatched excuse. Last I heard waterlilies weren't part of the alligator's diet.

I've still got 4 Victoria Lily seeds left, been keeping them in water at a constant 24 to 26C. Once we get into the start of the wet season I'll try to sprout them. That way by the time they get big there should be enough water around for them.

Boffins basically means technical/academic experts, in a scientific way.
garyfla_gw
8 years ago
Hi

In some respects I can see the problem as surface growth tends to hide them. No alligators of any size are allowed in the city limits The main problem is that people feed them so they quickly learn people equal food so instead of running away they approach people for a handout which makes them quite dangerous particularly to children and pet dogs There is a playground in the complex There is also a city and state law that only "natives" can be planted in public areas . They would let me grow them in the city bo gardens BUT it's 20 miles away surrounded by locked fences so I'd have very limited access. What a hassle that would be ?? They are among the worlds most fantastic plants though!!

Found them rather easy to grow but they quickly outgrew my small pond .Two pads and the pond was full lol Another problem is that all parts underwater are covered by thorns makes pruning an adventure lol

Anyway goodluck with them if you have the room they really put on a show!!! gary