Nymphaea stellata Willd
Perennial herbs. Leaves 5-15 (-20) x (5-) 10-15 cm, elliptic to orbicular or oval, entire or slightly dentate, often purplish or somewhat dull red on the undersurface, petiole and pedicel quite long. Flowers 5-15 cm across, slightly scented. Sepals 4-10 x 1.5-3 cm, entire, acute to subacute, greenish or dull red with dark dots or lines. Petals 10-30, variously coloured, light blue or yellowish white with purplish tinge, linear oblong or lanceolate, usually in 3-rows, 3-8 x 1-2 cm. Stamens 10-30 in several series with 5-6 mm long, blue appendages. Stigmatic rays 10-20, terminating in short horns. Fruit ± globose, c. 4.5 mm in diameter, enclosed by persistent sepals. Seeds 1-2 mm, with longitudinal striations, aril fleshy.
Type: Habitat coromendeli.
G-4 Thatta Dist.: Gharo-Sakro road, flowers white with bluish tinge, M. Qais¬er, S. Omer & R. Yusuf 7501 (KUH), G-5 Hyderabad Dist.: Ghulam Mohammad Barrage, Sultanul Abedin 3886 (KUH), 5 miles from Sajjawal (Sujawal) on way to Hyderabad, M. Qaiser & S. Omer 7819 (KUH).
Distribution: Tropical Africa, Pakistan, India, Bangladesh and South of Andaman.
This species is a fairly common species in the waterlogged areas of Sind and can easily be distinguished from Nymphaea pubescens Willd. by its somewhat smaller and bluish flowers and long appendaged anthers.