[2] Nymphaea petersiana is an aquatic, rhizomatous, perennial plant[3] with a tuberous rhizome.

[3] The 6-12 cm wide, blue, white, or pink flowers emerge above the water surface.

The androecium consists of 100 stamens[3] with a white apical appendage.

Lotos in respect to the dentate margin and raised leaf venation on the abaxial leaf surface, but the flowers closely resemble those of Nymphaea subg.

[8] The specific epithet petersiana honours Wilhelm Peters (1815-1883).