Multivariate analysis of Nymphaea (Nymphaeaceae) taxa in Manipur (India) through morphological variables

Nymphaea L. forms an economically important wetland plant of Manipur, India. However, there is a dearth of the diversity information about the Nymphaea in this region. There is availability of great variation in the Nymphaea taxa collected during the survey. A total of 40 morphological characters were evaluated and analysed in 207 individuals representing nine taxa, through principal component analysis. The results indicate that there are three distinct types of morphologically same construct Nymphaea taxa detected as components. The first component consists of five taxa, viz., N. micrantha, N. caerulea, N. nouchali, N. manipurensis and N. manipurensis var. versicolor, which can explain around 33 % of the total variation of the Nymphaea taxa. Two taxa, including N. × marliacea and N. mexicana, form the second component that contributes around 30 % of the total variation of the Nymphaea taxa. The last component pertains to N. rubra and N. pubescens that can explain the variation of the Nymphaea taxa by 12 % approximately. Finally, the three components so far identified are designated as a triangular rhizome group, tubular rhizome group and globular rhizome group, respectively. The present study emphasizes the importance of morphological characters in delimiting the taxonomic groups in the Nymphaea taxa.