Common name: Swamp Lily
Ottelia ovalifolia subsp. ovalifolia (R.Br.) Rich. APNI* Description: Tufted aquatic perennial or annual with submerged and floating leaves and flowers.
Submerged leaves strap-like; floating leaves with lamina elliptic, to 16 cm long, 3–6 cm wide, petiole to 1 m long.
Flowers bisexual, both chasmogamous and cleistogamous. Chasmogamous flowers emergent, to 6 cm diam.; spathe thick, tuberculate, ridged, 2-lobed, 3–6 cm long. Outer perianth segments 1.5–2.3 cm long, green; inner ovate to circular, 4–5 cm long, white with a maroon base. Stamens in 3 groups of ± 4 stamens. Styles 6–9. Developing fruit withdrawn into the water as it matures; seeds 2–3 mm long, finely hairy. Cleistogamous flowers submerged and with reduced perianth segments.
Flowering: during warmer months.
Distribution and occurrence: Grows in stationary and slowly flowing freshwater to c. 1 m deep, usually with high nutrient levels.
NSW subdivisions: NC, CC, SC, NT, CT, ST, NWS, CWS, SWS, NWP, SWP, NFWP
Other Australian states: Qld Vic. W.A. S.A. N.T.
| The single subspecies in NSW. Characters and distribution as for the species in NSW. |
APNI* Provides a link to the Australian Plant Name Index (hosted by the Australian National Botanic Gardens) for comprehensive bibliographic data
***The AVH map option provides a detailed interactive Australia wide distribution map drawn from collections held by all major Australian herbaria participating in the Australian Virtual Herbarium project.
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