Why does the Amazon Water Lily imprison
its pollinators?
By Chelsie Vandaveer
August 22, 2001
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Suggested Reading—>Click here.
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The giant Amazon water lily (Victoria amazonica) is a clever plant for getting what it wants. It wants only two things, to survive and to reproduce.
The leaves grow at a rate of about one and a half square feet per day until they have reached their mature size of 6 to 7 feet. Any other plant competing for sunlight is either pushed out of the way or covered by the gigantic leaves. The undersides of the leaves are studded with spines to prevent any passing fish from munching.
But it is the flowers that are truly amazing. The pure white flowers open in the evening, releasing a fragrance like pineapples. The flowers are ready to be pollinated. Beetles find the aroma irresistible and fly navigating to the pale flowers on the dark water. In the center of each flower are specialized petals full of sugar and starches. The beetles feast and never notice that the flower is slowing closing over them. The anthers ripen and shed their pollen on the feasting, but imprisoned beetles.
The flowers open the second evening only now they are pink and have lost their fragrance. The beetles have finished the feast and are covered with pollen. They leave the pink flowers in search of other pure white flowers that promise a good meal. Nature makes sure the Amazon water lily is never self-pollinated for it is only when the flower is white and fragrant that it can be pollinated. Each plant opens new flowers only every other day, so the beetles carrying pollen, must fly to a different plant to continue feeding.
The following web page is in Japanese, but the photographs are great.
Click here to view the Victoria amazonica
killerPlants Tendrils: ~~1~~2~~3~~4~~5~~
Suggested Reading:
How does this waterlily protect its seeds? Renfield's Garden - July 2, 2003
How did Native Americans use waterlilies? Herbal Folklore - June 30, 2003
Waterlily (Nymphaea hybrid) Plant of the Week - May 16, 2005
The Bottle The Potting Bench - January 28, 2002
Planting Basket
Breck's Bulbs®
Recommended for water lilies, Japanese irises and other aquatic plants. Durable plastic basket prevents soil from washing away from submerged roots. Approx. 8.6" diameter, 4.7" high.
Click here - Free $25 off any order of $50 or more at Brecks Bulbs
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Water Garden Collection
Breck's Bulbs®
The hottest trend in home gardening!
Gardeners everywhere are discovering the peace and pleasure of water gardens. Although you could spend thousands of dollars on equipment and plants for a large elaborate water garden, you really don't have to.
With Breck's Water Garden Collection and a simple 16" diameter pot (not included), you can re-create the serene, natural beauty of a pond or bog in just minutes, right outside your door.
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Top-size #1 plants. Prefers full sun. Grow 2"-4'. Bloom late spring to summer. Zones 3-9.
Each collection includes:
1 Calla palustris - Bears elegant, greenish-white flowers on 6-12" stems, followed by bright red berries in late summer.
1 Yellow Flag - Tall 4' plant with swordlike leaves. Pale yellow, 3-4" blooms are followed by attractive fruit capsules - both good for cutting. Iris pseudacorus
1 Attraction Water Lily - Irresistible! Huge flowers up to 8" across are deep garnet red inside, pale red outside. Light bronze leaves darken to green as they age.
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Waterlily Dahlia Mixture
Breck's Bulbs®
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The name gives you a hint of their regal beauty. They're as elegant as Waterlily blooms, but have the versatility of the prolific-blooming Decorative Dahlias. An outstanding mixture of delicate pastel hues - pinks, oranges, yellows and white.
Sun-loving plants will provide garden and bouquet beauty for an exceptionally long season, from early summer until hard frost sets in.
Plant 18-24" apart in full sun to partial shade. #1 clumps produce multiple stems, each decorated with multiple 3-4" blooms. Grows 2-3' high. Lift in fall.
Click here - Free $25 off any order of $50 or more at Brecks Bulbs
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Hardy Water Lily Collection
Breck's Bulbs®
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Colourful fragrant water lilies are a must for water gardens of every size-from large garden pods to smaller water features, such as urns, tubs and other decorative containers.
Breck's water lilies have been carefully selected for their superior hardiness, vivid colours and long bloom season. All are easy to grow in water with a depth of 4-36".
Will overwinter outdoors throughout most of the U.S. In colder areas, lift the plants and store them until spring. #1 plants. Nymphaea
Prefers full sun. Grows 2" high. Blooms summer. Zones 4-9.
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Collection includes one each of the following:
Aurora - Large, 6-8" cup-shaped blossoms of fiery orange red are surrounded by attracted maroon-splashed leaves.
Albida - Handsome leaves up to 9" around encircle classic white blossoms.
Firecrest - Fabulous deep pink blossoms up to 8" across feature a contrasting orange-yellow heart. Leaves are deep purple when new, green wheen mature.
Attraction - Irresistable! Huge flowers up to 8" across are deep garnet red inside, pale red outside. Light bronze leaves darken to green as they age.
Chromatella - Sunshine yellow flowers, 4-5" across; deep green leaves have intriguing purple splotches.
5 plant in all!
Click here - Free $25 off any order of $50 or more at Brecks Bulbs
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Water Lilies, 'Firecrest'
Springhill Nursery®
4-6” star-shaped blossoms open dark purple, then lighten to deep pink.
Gardeners all over American are discovering the pleasure and beauty of water gardening! These stunning water lilies will bring incomparable beauty to your landscape from late spring to early fall, year after year.
Each blossom lasts 3-4 days, opening in the morning and closing in the afternoon.
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Showy, plants spread 2-3’ across. Although a pond is ideal for growing water lilies, it isn’t essential- you can grow them even in a large, water-filled container on your deck or patio. (If grown in shallow water, water lilies should be moved to a frost-free location for winter.)
#1 Field-grown plants. Deer tend to avoid.
Nymphaea
Click here - $20 off your first order at Spring Hill Nursery!
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Water Lilies, 'Chromatella'
Springhill Nursery®
Large, canary yellow blooms, 4-5” across, are accented by glossy green leaves.
Gardeners all over American are discovering the pleasure and beauty of water gardening! These stunning water lilies will bring incomparable beauty to your landscape from late spring to early fall, year after year.
Each blossom lasts 3-4 days, opening in the morning and closing in the afternoon.
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Showy, plants spread 2-3’ across. Although a pond is ideal for growing water lilies, it isn’t essential- you can grow them even in a large, water-filled container on your deck or patio. (If grown in shallow water, water lilies should be moved to a frost-free location for winter.)
#1 Field-grown plants. Deer tend to avoid.
Nymphaea
Click here - $20 off your first order at Spring Hill Nursery!
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Water Lilies, 'Albida'
Springhill Nursery®
Lovely! Fully double, glistening white petals surround the golden centers of these 4-6” blooms; set by dark green leaves.
Gardeners all over American are discovering the pleasure and beauty of water gardening! These stunning water lilies will bring incomparable beauty to your landscape from late spring to early fall, year after year.
Each blossom lasts 3-4 days, opening in the morning and closing in the afternoon.
|
|
Showy, plants spread 2-3’ across. Although a pond is ideal for growing water lilies, it isn’t essential- you can grow them even in a large, water-filled container on your deck or patio. (If grown in shallow water, water lilies should be moved to a frost-free location for winter.)
#1 Field-grown plants. Deer tend to avoid.
Nymphaea
Click here - $20 off your first order at Spring Hill Nursery!
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Water Lilies, 'Attraction'
Springhill Nursery®
A most unusual and beautiful shade of rosy red! Huge, fully double 6-8” blossoms.
Gardeners all over American are discovering the pleasure and beauty of water gardening! These stunning water lilies will bring incomparable beauty to your landscape from late spring to early fall, year after year.
Each blossom lasts 3-4 days, opening in the morning and closing in the afternoon.
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|
Showy, plants spread 2-3’ across. Although a pond is ideal for growing water lilies, it isn’t essential- you can grow them even in a large, water-filled container on your deck or patio. (If grown in shallow water, water lilies should be moved to a frost-free location for winter.)
#1 Field-grown plants. Deer tend to avoid.
Nymphaea
Click here - $20 off your first order at Spring Hill Nursery!
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Water Lily Collection
Springhill Nursery®
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Save $19.97! Get one each of the following water lilies:
'Attraction' Water Lily: A most unusual and beautiful shade of rosy red! Huge, fully double 6-8” blossoms.
'Chromatella' Water lily: Large, canary yellow blooms, 4-5” across, are accented by glossy green leaves.
'Firecrest' Water Lily: 4-6” star-shaped blossoms open dark purple, then lighten to deep pink.
'Albida' Water Lily: Lovely! Fully double, glistening white petals surround the golden centers of these 4-6” blooms; set by dark green leaves.
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Gardeners all over American are discovering the pleasure and beauty of water gardening! These stunning water lilies will bring incomparable beauty to your landscape from late spring to early fall, year after year. Each blossom lasts 3-4 days, opening in the morning and closing in the afternoon. Showy, plants spread 2-3’ across. Although a pond is ideal for growing water lilies, it isn’t essential- you can grow them even in a large, water-filled container on your deck or patio. (If grown in shallow water, water lilies should be moved to a frost-free location for winter.)
#1 Field-grown plants. Deer tend to avoid.
Nymphaea
Click here - $20 off your first order at Spring Hill Nursery!
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