An Outstanding Water Lily
The Queen Victoria water lily, like some other beautiful plants, 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 huge flat surface, sometimes three feet across, is decorated with an upturned edge forming an outside rim. It is actually composed of several overlapping leaves and held tightly together by strong veins underneath. These veins come 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 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, providing the mother picked a shady spot.
In later experiments by nurserymen in England and North America, where seeds were taken and plants successfully grown, 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. Each large flower lives only two days, gradually changing from a lovely white to pretty reddish purple. 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 hurt. 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, insuring 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 for the great love He provides for anyone who will come to Him.
ML 01/28/1990