Flora of New Zealand Series

Swamp Lily

Robust, tufted, scapose perennial. Leaves all basal; juvenile submersed. linear, transparent, short-petiolate; older leaves ovate or oblong, obtuse, floating, with 7 strong nerves connected by fine cross-veinlets; petioles septate, to 40 cm long. Flowers bisexual, large, white solitary and sessile within a 2-lobed, tubular, 6-ribbed spathe c. 6 cm long, terminal on a stout scape. Perianth-tube > spathe. Sepals 3, green, 1.5-3 cm long; petals 3, to 4 cm long, fragile, white with orange base. Stamens 6-12, orange. Stigmas 6-8, bifid. Capsule narrowly ovoid, 2-5 cm long, beaked, enclosed within spathe. Seeds many.

N. Common in many districts in ponds and slow waters. S. Nelson - lagoons near Cape Farewell; Marlborough - Blenheim.

(Australia)

First record: Cheeseman 1899: 350.

First collection: Pukekohe, Auckland, D. Petrie, Feb. 1906 ().

FL. 12-3.

O. ovalifolia resembles Aponogeton distachyus and Hydrocleys nymphoides in having broad, long-petiolate leaves; it differs from Aponogeton in the plant-base being non-tuberous and the flowers solitary; and from Hydrocleys in the distinct linear juvenile leaves, and ovate to oblong (not cordate) floating leaves, and in the white petals with orange base, as opposed to the yellow petals of Hydrocleys. O. ovalifolia has established and is at times a nuisance in dams, ponds and slow-moving waters.

Fig. 3. Ottelia ovalifolia, swamp lily; A ovate floating leaf, B linear underwater leaf, C habit © All rights reserved. [Image: 26XG]

Fig. 4. Alisma lanceolatum; A habit, B flower, C ring of mature achenes, D mature achene. © All rights reserved. [Image: 26XJ]