- Who
- Thermal waterlily, Nymphaea thermarum
- What
- 10 - 20 millimetre(s)
- Where
- Rwanda ()
- When
The smallest documented species of water lily is Nymphaea thermarum, also known as the thermal lily has pads 10-20 mm (0.3-0.6 in) across.
The thermal lily is now believed to be extinct in the wild. Its only natural habitiat was a single thermal pool in Mashyuxa, Rwanda and a change in conditions due to agricultural use is thought to have changed conditions in the pool such that the pool became uninhabitable for the plant. However, hotriculturalist Carlos Magdalena (Spain) was able to save the lily from extinction by successfully germinating stored seeds at Kew Gardens, London, UK in November 2009.
