台灣萍蓬草（Yellow Water Lily）

Description:

Leaves broad, oblong to ovate, 8-10 cm long, 7-8 cm broad, the apex rounded, the base sagittate-cordate, the sinus 3-4 cm deep, the margins subentire, glabrous above, hirsute below especially near the margins; petioles 15-30 cm long, dilated at base. Scape 25-40 cm long; flowers yellow, solitary, terminal; sepals 5, obovate to spatulate-obovate, about 2 cm long, 13 mm broad, the apex rounded to emaginate; petals many, staminodal, about 6 mm long, 2.5-3 mm broad; stamens numerous, about 1 cm long including the anthers, the filaments 8 mm long and 1 mm broad. Ovary semi-rounded to conical, 3-4 mm long, 7 mm broad, the style 1-2 mm long, 10-fid at tip. Fruit broadly globose, 17 mm long, 20 mm across, crowned by the stigmas.

Habitat:

Endemic. Taiwan, in ponds, ditches or lakes.

Notes:

It is a kind of endangered aquatic plant in Taiwan. It look like normal water lily, but it's flower is totally different. This plant's original individual can only see at seldom place in Taiwan. It only live in Taiwan. That is if the water pool still become little and little, soon it may become "Extinct in the Wild".