Like some other beautiful plants, the Queen Victoria water lily grows in water, although its roots reach down to a rich soil base. This plant grows best where there is room for its huge, colorful lily pads to spread out on the water’s surface. This lily pad’s large, flat surface, sometimes as much as three feet across, is decorated with an upturned edge forming an outside rim. It is actually made up of several overlapping leaves and held tightly together by strong veins underneath. These veins grow out from a tube that extends down three feet or more to the roots. Food from the soil, blended with water, rises through this tube to keep the entire plant healthy and strong.
The rib-like veins not only form the leaves into a flat circle, they also add strength and support to the plant. When natives of Bolivia, where this plant was first found, discovered the strength of these lily pads, mothers would at times lay their babies down on the flat surface for a napping spot. The little ones would be safe and content, provided the mother picked a shady spot.
Seeds were taken and plants successfully grown in England and North America. In later experiments by nurserymen, it was found that a full-sized Victoria could easily hold a person weighing as much as 150 pounds!
The flowers growing close to the side of the plant are beautiful and large—about the size of a soccer ball. Each large flower lives only three days, gradually changing from a lovely white to pretty pinky purple after it has been pollinated. But more flowers continue opening throughout the whole year, and a healthy plant with its beautiful floating flowers always makes an outstanding picture.
An interesting fact about these flowers is that they do not open fully until late in the day and close again as dawn approaches. This means that insects attracted to them during the night often are caught unawares as the petals enclose them and are trapped inside until the next evening. But it is nice and warm in there, and they are not harmed. This is actually an interesting way the Creator has arranged for the flowers to be pollinated. The insect moving around inside the closed blossom becomes covered with pollen. When it later escapes, it often flies to another Victoria plant, transferring the pollen, one of God’s ways of assuring that healthy seeds will be formed.
These beautiful plants are another example of the wonderful ways of the Lord God when He created all things of this world. Our opening Bible verse speaks of praising God for His wonderful ways. May we always thank Him for not only His wonderful ways, but also for the great love He provides for anyone who will come to Him.
ML-05/28/2017