Water Lily belongs to the family Nymphaeaceae. They are aquatic blooms grown in ponds and water gardens. Water lilies comprising around 60 species in four genera of freshwater flowering plants endemic to temperate and tropical regions of the world.
Apart from decoration, water lilies are also used in medicine.
Appearance
- Leaves: Water lilies have broad leaves with a flower bloom floating in the water. Their leaves are also called water lily pads. They are vibrant green in color from the top and reddish-purple on the bottom and can be ten inches in diameter. Leaves are round, oval, or heart-shaped and float or sit slightly above the water. They are linked to the stalk at the center, and most have a split that gives the appearance of an open mouth.
- Flower: Water lily flowers range in size from two to six inches wide. Open blooms have 20 to 30 petals, while the centers of the flowers can have up to 70 golden stamens.
- Stem: The water lily stem remains attached to the sand’s surface and holds the leaves and blossoms above it. The root supports the soil effectively, so it is not damaged when is a heavy water flow. Its stem is strongly linked with rhizomes, which supply nitrogen and all the other nutrients required for flower growth.
Habitat
Water lilies enjoy tranquil, quiet places like the borders of tiny lakes or the backwaters of slow-moving streams. Water lilies thrive in shallow marshes, bogs, and ponds because they can grow in water just five or six feet deep. They are found throughout the world in temperate and tropical climates.
Species
There are over 60 species of water lilies in the world. They differ in color and size. Some unique species include:
- Pink water lily
- Yellow water lily
- Amazon, also known as Royal, water lily
Pink water lily
This species’ blooms may reach a height of 17.7 cm and are exceedingly fragrant.
Yellow water lily
The yellow water lily features thin, transparent submerged leaves and leathery floating foliage.
Amazon or Royal Water Lily
They are giant species of water lilies and may spread up to 10 ft (3 m) and have stalks up to 26 ft (8 m) long that are mostly submerged. The water lily’s leaf margins have upturned edges, giving each heavily veined leaf the appearance of an enormous shallow pan 60 to 180 cm (approximately 2 to 6 ft) across and giving rise to its popular name, water platter.
Reproduction
Water lilies reproduce with two methods, the production of seeds and vegetative production.
- Production of seeds: When the plant blooms, the blossom lasts around 3-4 days. On the first day, the flowers generate a pleasant and fragrant juice that attracts pollinating insects like bees. Pollen will wash off these critters’ bodies and fertilize the female reproductive organ (stigma) if they have visited other water lily blooms. In the few days that follow, the male reproductive organ (stamen) produces pollen, which pollinators use to fertilize other plants. The flowers start sinking into the water around day 3-4, and up to 2000 seeds will begin generating within the plant over the next few weeks. These seeds are then released into the water and float to the surface before being moved to various regions until they get waterlogged and sink to the substrate, where new plants will grow.
- Vegetative production: In vegetative production, the plant will generate its runners/rhizomes, which are effectively clones of their parent plant and may be separated from it by rhizome division. They are commonly known as daughter plants, and they may be detached from the parent’s roots and put into their pots with a substrate and slow-release nutrients to assist growth.
Facts About the Water Lily
- The giant water lilies are so strong that they can hold the weight of a human being up to 140 pounds.
- Water lilies help to sustain their environment.
- The water lily is the birth flower of July.
- The water lily is said to be a spiritual sign.
- They are found throughout Asia, North America, Europe, Africa, and Australia.
FAQs
Are water lilies and lotus the same?
Water lilies and lotus appear identical, but if you look at their leaves and blooms, you can readily tell the difference: lilies have flowers that float on the water, but lotus has flowers that grow above the water’s surface. The leaves of lilies are thick, but those of lotus are thin. In addition, there is a noticeable notch on the lily’s leaf.
When do water lily blooms?
Water lilies bloom from May to September, so July is precisely in the thick of the season. Water lilies grow all year in frost-free areas. However, you must be lucky to catch a bloom since each flower only lasts approximately four days before falling into the ocean to decay.
Are water lilies poisonous?
Water lily is harmful despite being utilized as a natural cure for muscular pains and nutrition. Only their seeds are eatable.
Who painted water lilies?
Water Lilies (French: Nymphéas) is an oil painting series by French Impressionist Claude Monet. The paintings represent his flower garden at his house in Giverny, and they were the primary focus of his artistic output for the final thirty years of his life.
