Thoreau wrote " How pure its white petals, though its root is in the mud!"Nymphaea Odorata is the Greek name for this plant, named Nymphaea after the Greek deities called Nymphs who were beautiful and lived in the water. Odorata means scented. When the Lily is fertilized the flower closes and the stem holding it to the surface of the water curls downward pulling the flower under water where the seed matures. When the seeds mature the seed pod breaks away and floats to the surface and seeds are released. This water lily opens in the morning and closes at about noon, and only on sunny days.
Where I found it : Dead Cat Swamp
Absolutely gorgeous! One of my favorites!
ReplyDeleteI have loved seeing all the water lilies on our walks around Ashley Resavoir but we definitley walk much later in the day so I do not know if it is the same one, beacause they are still open...:)
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