What causes lilies to grow in a pond? is one of the facts about lily pads.
If you've ever seen a body of water filled with aquatic plants, you will likely be amazed at how they float on top of the water.There is a larger pond plant that thrives in shallow lakes and ponds.There are about 70 different species of this aquatic flowering plant.
There is a lot going on beneath the placid surface of these plants.Some of the most common facts about lilies are surprising.
You can see the lily pad floating on top of the water, but it's not the entire water lily.There is a plant.A lily pad is a leaf with the ability to repel water.The lilies are attached to a stem that may extend many feet down to the bottom of a pond or lake where the plant is root.t
The underside of a lily pad is different from the top.There is a system of stems and tubes.The tubes help the pad float and collect oxygen through the openings in the leaves.Oxygen is transferred from the water lily's stem to its roots.The air is sent from the top of the lily to its roots through this mechanism.The dark purple bottoms of the lilies help the leaves absorb the sunlight required for photosynthesis.
Water lilies reproduce both by way of seeds and by spreading their roots.Though lily pads spread relatively slowly, they can eventually take over entire shorelines.Areas of water can be as deep as six feet.A single rhizome can grow to 15 feet in diameter in 15 years.Water lilies can shade the water and make it too cold for native fish and plants if they are spread to non-native habitats.Water lilies may compete with native plants for food.
Water lilies are native to some areas and beneficial to others.There are water lilies on the shoreline of lakes and ponds.These plants help their habitats by providing shelter for fish and shade to keep the water cool.Frogs can hide from underwater predators by perching on the leaves of water lilies.Natural oxygen produced by lilies allows fish to breathe.
In areas where water lilies are native, native American tribes often use different parts of the plant to treat a variety of ailments.The roots created a poultice when mashed.The poultices were used to treat reproductive problems in women.The leaves were used for cooling.