Pygmy Rwandan waterlily
Nymphaea thermarum Eb.Fisch.
Nymphaea thermarum, known as the Pygmy Rwandan waterlily, is a water lily species native to Rwanda. Endangered due to habitat destruction, it was believed extinct in the wild until seeds were cultivated at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew in 2009. A new wild population was found in 2023.
Description
Nymphaea thermarum (Eb.Fisch.) is a species in the Nymphaeaceae family, found in the Afrotropical region, particularly in Rwanda. Once considered extinct in the wild, it was preserved through ex-situ cultivation at Kew in 2009. A wild population was rediscovered in 2023, offering hope for its survival. This small aquatic plant is known as the Pygmy Rwandan waterlily in English and is one of the smallest water lilies in the world.
Other common names
Pygmy Rwandan waterlily
Distribution
Afrotropical · Global · Rwanda