WATER lilies belong to the Nymphaeaceae family, which consists of around 70 different species divided into eight different genera and can be found throughout the world.

The large leaves of the water lily that float on the surface of the water are attached to the soil at the bottom of the pond by a long stem. The roots are rhizomes, fleshy tubers that store nutrients. The flowers stand above the water on slender stalks

Water lilies are found only in fresh water that is shallow and still, around the edges of lakes or in small ponds. Usually it has white female flowers and also pink male flowers. The plants come from seeds that come from water that rises 10cm a day. Soon it produces five to 10 leaves a month. The large lilies provide food for fish and wildlife.

Water lily is the national flower of Bangladesh and the blue water lily or Nymphaea stellata, is the national flower of Sri Lanka.

Blooming

Water lilies are the queen of the garden and come in different types, colours, bloom times and hardiness. They have a long blooming season from spring to late fall. All water lilies bloom during warm weather. The flower buds develop under water and when ready to open, they emerge above the water surface between the surrounding leaf pads during day time. The flower opens each morning and closes each night for about three days, then dies. A new flower is usually on its way before the first one dies. Often up to a dozen flowers can be open at once.

The giant water lily

The giant water lily, or Victoria amazonica, is an amazing and beautiful plant with its floating leaves that are four to six feet in diameter and surrounded by a two- to four-inch ridge (meaning the edge rises two to four inches around the perimeter of the leaf). The leaves are yellow-green in colour, with a copper-coloured, prickly underside.

This native of South America, mainly found along the banks of the Amazon River, is an aquatic, oval-shaped perennial also known as the Amazon water lily, royal water lily, Amazon water-platter, the giant water lily and the plant’s scientific name, Victoria, was given in 1837 as a tribute to Queen Victoria by English botanist John Lindley, who introduced the specimen in the The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, at the time.

The giant water lily has night-blooming flowers that emerge at dusk and close by noon. The nine- to 12-inch flowers bloom for three days, starting with a creamy white shade on day one, a pinkish hue on day two and a purplish-red colour on day three. It smells somewhat like pineapple and blooms annually from July through August.

The yellow lily’s roots are sometimes consumed. White Lily’s roots are useful to treat sore mouths. The smoke from a few lilies burning roots has been used to repel bugs.

Lotus

The lotus is different from the water lily. The leaves of lotus are emergent, meaning that they rise above the water level whereas the leaves of water lily float on the water surface. Same is true for their respective flowers — lotus flowers are emergent and water lily flowers are floating. The lotus leaves are held about the surface of the water on long stalks.

The lotus is a plant group made up of mainly herbs and sub-shrubs, and is scientifically known as Nelumbo and belongs to the family Nelumbonaceae.

— Compiled by Aamnah