The Lillies of the Stream
Water lilies, common in ponds and slow-moving streams, are quite a marvel of aquatic plant engineering. Water lily stems have several air-filled passageways for buoyancy while water-resistant leaves can withstand tearing from wind or water due to their flat, broadened shape and thick texture.
White or fragrant water lily (Nymphaea odorata), the plant seen here, opens its flowers in the morning and closes them in the afternoon. The sweet-smelling flowers are bisexual, but because the female parts mature before the male parts, self-fertilization is prevented and the plants are cross-pollinated by numerous insects. The leaves provide food and habitat to several critters, such as territorial dragonflies.
Today's
photo was taken by WPC Volunteer Mary Shaw, who recently visited Lake
Pleasant and was able to capture some of its floristic beauty with an
underwater camera.
"It
reminds me of a young country maiden…"
-Thoreau,
on the fragrance of white water lily
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