Water Lilies
The scientific name for water lily is Nymphaeaceae. Water lilies are found all over the world, in a variety of shapes and colors, but are found in freshwater ponds, marshes, and swamps. They thrive in tropical and temperate climates.
Water lilies have stems that are buried under the mud at the bottom of their home wetland. These stems connect to stalks, which support the floating flowers and leaves (commonly referred to as lily pads). Because they can float to the top of the water, they are able to get sunlight so that they can grow. The leaves provide shade to the water, which keeps the temperature cool during the summer. The flowers cannot survive in the cold, so they die in the winter, but the submerged roots and stems are able to survive, allowing the lily to be a perennial plant.
Water lilies are producers, and they use photosynthesis to make their own food. They are very dependent on sunlight, and tend to compete with other sunlight-requiring plants, typically dominating. They provide pollen for insects, as well as food for animals like ducks and deer, and insects such as aphids and beetles. They are often used in decorative ponds.