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The parts of the water lily that live under the water provide a home for many tiny creatures that are used as food by other wildlife like fish, frogs, and snakes. Deer, beaver, muskrat, and other rodents will eat
the leaves and roots, while the seeds
are eaten by ducks.


White Water Lily

butterflyImageA freshwater perennial herb with large, round leaves and showy, fragrant blossoms

Where to look – Water lilies prefer quiet waters such as ponds, lake margins and slow streams. They root in the mucky bottoms and grow upwards as much as 2.5 meters to the surface.

What to look for – The large, round floating leaves are up to 22 centimeters in diameter and are usually purple underneath. The white flowers are up to 12 centimeters in diameter and lasts from two to five days. When the flowers close on the last day, the stalk ‘corkscrews’, drawing the developing fruit below the water.

When to find them – Flowers appear in summer. The blossoms are shy, opening in the morning and closing in the early afternoon; they may also close on cloudy days.

globeWOW!

The leaves are designed to float - try as you might, you can't sink them!

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