CR

Nymphaea thermarum

Declining

Overview

Nymphaea thermarum, also known as Miniature Rwandan water lily, is a species of water lily that is endemic to Rwanda. Once thought to be extinct in the wild, all wild plants were believed to be lost due to destruction of its native habitat, but it was thought to be saved from extinction when it was grown from seed at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew in 2009. A previously-unknown wild population was discovered in 2023.

Nymphaea thermarum faces extinction due to the complete loss of its sole natural habitat at Mashyuza hot springs in Rwanda, where the thermal spring dried up in 2008. The species now exists only in cultivation at Kew Gardens and a few other botanical institutions. Human activities including agricultural expansion and water extraction in the surrounding area contributed to the spring's disappearance, while the species' extremely narrow habitat requirements make natural recolonization impossible.

Threat summary

Habitat

This aquatic plant was endemic to a single thermal spring at Mashyuza in Rwanda, where it grew in shallow, warm mineral-rich waters with temperatures around 25-27°C. The species required the specific geothermal conditions and water chemistry of this unique freshwater spring ecosystem.

Wetlands (inland)· majorRocky areas· major

Conservation measures underway

Site/area protectionSpecies recoverySpecies reintroductionEx-situ conservationAwareness & communicationsLegislation

Other threatened species in NYMPHAEACEAE

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Nymphaea loriana

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Nymphaea stuhlmannii

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Utricularia gibba

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Secamone racemosa

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Frequently asked questions

Why is Nymphaea thermarum classified as Critically Endangered?
Nymphaea thermarum is classified as Critically Endangered — facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild — because population sizes are very small, declining sharply, or restricted to a tiny range. Nymphaea thermarum faces extinction due to the complete loss of its sole natural habitat at Mashyuza hot springs in Rwanda, where the thermal spring dried up in 2008. The species now exists only in cultivation at Kew Gardens and a few other botanical institutions. Human activities including agricultural expansion and water extraction in the surrounding area contributed to the spring's disappearance, while the species' extremely narrow habitat requirements make natural recolonization impossible.
Where does Nymphaea thermarum live?
Nymphaea thermarum occurs in Rwanda. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Nymphaea thermarum?
The main threats to Nymphaea thermarum are 3.2, 5.3, ai-1, and ai-2. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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