A fragrant water lily (Nymphaea odorata) in Labrador Lake this week. © BCP 2010
Fragrant water lilies (Nymphaea odorata) are as common as mud in a swamp, but that doesn’t make them any less beautiful.
I saw this particular water lily as I was making my way into Labrador Lake, in search of the loon I had heard was nesting there. When I saw the perfection of this lily, stabbed as it seemed to be by a sharply pointed vertical leaf, I had to stop and try to create a memorable image of it. As it turned out, I got the photo I wanted of the lily, and managed to see the loon, too. (You can see my photo of the loon sitting on its nest here.)
My copy of the National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Wildflowers says that the flowers of this plant are usually open from early morning until noon. Hmm. Don’t know if I ever recognized that about these lilies before.
The same handbook also tells me that the long stalk of this plant, which rises up from the lake or pond bottom and bears the flowers and flat round leaves on the surface of the water, is soft and spongy and can be used as a drinking straw!
The Audubon book continues: “(the stalk) has four main air channels for the movement of gases, especially oxygen, from the leaves to the large rhizomes buried in the muck, which are frequently eaten by muskrats.”
It’s always all connected, isn’t it?
© BCP 2010
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