REPORT TEXT

THE LOVELY WATER LILY

Water Lily ( Nympheaceae ) is a common name for a small of aquatic plants. Water lilies bloom at all times of the day. There are many species of water lilies : night, tropical and hardy. Night lilies bloom in the night while tropical lilies can be found in tropical climates. Hardy lilies are the toughest because they can grow in any condition and are the most common species found.

The water lily has long, stout leaves and a long flower stalk. It usually has six petals and six stamens. The water lily reproduces by budding. The roots detach and grow into new water lilies. They grow and live on the edge of ponds and lakes, in the sallow water. They prefer to live in hot climates and in areas where there are only few plants, so they don’t have to compete for sunlight. The leaves of water lilies usually store a lot of energy from the sunlight.

Water lilies come in different size. The largest water lily is the giant Water Lily, which is found in the Amazon. It can grow to be about 0,6 m to 1,8 m in diameter. It provides food for fish and wildlife around its habitat. But it can also cause trouble  because its large size causes drainage. Besides the water lily, there is alsothe swamp lily, which reproduces and grows just like the water lily. The only difference is that the  swamp lily grows in swamps.

Water lilies can be eaten too. Some people eat the root of the Yellow Lily. Others use the root of the White Lily to treat a sore throat. Other lilies can be used as insect repellents. The smoke grom burning the roots of lilies is believed to be able to drive insects away. Water lilies were also once used in ancient Egyptian art.