Giant water lily (¤ý½¬) in Hong Kong Park
These " floating disks " are called giant water lily.
Giant water lily is a lovely aquatic plant belonging to the family Nymphaeaceae.
Their rigid floating leaves form large circular disks which
radiate from a central submerged stem.
[There are several species : Victoria americana, Victoria cruziana etc.]
Here is a description of the giant water lily.
The leaves are amazingly built with a tough rim, however,
rain can escape from it as the rim is broken by two triangular slits.
Is this an ingenious design of nature ?
The " circular disks " come in a variety of sizes.
I have seen magazine photographs of giant water lilies which can support a resting lady.
Upon closer examination, it can be seen that the leaf is supported by a spider-web-like network of veins. It is a magnificent example of biological adaptation showing the close relation between structure and function.
The rim of the giant water lily showing the pale reddish veins on the underside of the leaf.
The leaf surface is not flat.
¡@
But the giant water lily is not lonely, it is surrounded by a population of smaller water lilies.
Young floating leaves (7.2007)
