New water-lily species found

Oak Hammock Marsh, Man., August 13, 2008—A new white water-lily species was recently discovered by a team of U.S. and German botanists in wetlands managed by Ducks Unlimited Canada at Cumberland House in east-central Saskatchewan.

White water-lilies are far less common in this region than further east, and smaller in size, although still among the loveliest of aquatic plants. DNA studies confirm that this new water-lily arose from past hybridization between two other North American water-lilies: a small boreal species and a larger eastern one. The former coexists with the new species in the region, but the latter is completely absent. Hybrids are often found where water-lily species coexist, and are usually sterile, as are hybrids between the same two species in New England. Some unknown genetic change allowed the Central Canadian plants to make the leap to successful reproduction and speciation. How this happened is still under investigation.

According to these botanists, two documented populations of this new species are in Saskatchewan, and a third has just been confirmed in central Manitoba. These populations appear to have survived at least 50 years (as determined from old collections) under existing management practices, providing hope for their continued survival. The plants inhabit water at least two metres deep, producing abundant submersed leaves in addition to the floating ones, suggesting that stable water depth and clarity may be crucial environmental factors for their survival.

For more information, contact:

Leigh Patterson, l_patterson@ducks.ca
Corporate Media Relations Specialist
Ducks Unlimited Canada
(204) 467-3306