Rhizome usually horizontal, c. 35 mm thick, producing stolons along the upper side for most of their length. Leaves suborbicular with a radial sinus, to c. 20 cm diam., mid- to dark green and purple blotched above, paler below with reddish speckles near the margin, margins sinuate. Flowers to c. 20 cm diam., floating, closing at night; sepals 4, ovate, yellow and purplish-brown tinged; petals c. 24, ovate, obtuse, pale yellow to white, passing into petaloid stamens; stamens c. 50, pale to bright yellow; ovary lobes yellow. Berries not observed in Victorian specimens.
VRiv, DunT, HSF.
A horticultural hybrid, parentage is presumed to involve N. alba and N. mexicana and/or N. odorata Aiton. Sparingly established in Victoria, usually occurring with N. alba. Nymphaea ×marliacea is readily distinguished from N. alba by its more upright leaves that are purplish to red-blotched. However, this blotching may fade as plants mature.
