Kingdom+Plantae

=Giant Amazon Water Lily= == //Simmons Scholar//. (2010). [Photograph]. Retrieved from []

Giant Amazon Water Lily
 * Common Name: **


 * Latin Name: **
 * //Victoria amazonica//**

Kingdom: Plantae Phylum: Magnoliophyta Class: Equisetopsida Order: Nymphaeales Family: Nymphaeaceae Genus: //Victoria// Species: //Victoria amazonica//

Magnoliophyta are flowering plants of the Plantae Kingdom. They have a quarter of a million species in its category. They produce seeds that are enclosed in an ovary.
 * Description of Phylum: **

The Giant Amazon Water Lily looks like a larger version of the common water lily, but they have some unique characteristics as well, which will be discussed below. This species' conservation status is not known to be threatened.
 * Introduction to the Species: **

Nogi, K. (2009). //Getty Images//. [Photograph]. Retrieved from []

The leaves of the Giant Amazon Water Lily can exceed two metres in diameter at a rate of half a square metre per day. Its upper surface has a "quilted" appearance and waxy layer repelling water. Its stems can reach six metres, and it can grow with the rising flood of the Amazon. The sprouts can rise up to ten centimeters per day, and it can produce five to ten leaves per month that are one-and-a-half to two metres in diameter. The Giant Amazon Water Lily has floating leaves that have stomata - for the exchange of gas - on the upper exposed part. The leaves are circular, and the "stalks" are attached near the centre of the circular floating leaf. The stalks are buried in the mud of the lake/swamp/deposit of water. The underside of the Giant Amazon Water Lily is purplish-red in colour, and it has ribs and sharp spikes to defend against predators. Each plant produces 40 to 50 leaves covering the water surface. This prevents light from entering the water beneath them, limiting the amount of life able to survive in that area.
 * Morphological Features: **

//LivingTravel.// (2010). [Photograph]. Retrieved from []

The flowers of the Giant Amazon Water Lily are very unique. The flowers are white in colour and female on day one, and pink in colour and male on day two. On day one, the flower opens up as a female and lets out a sweet scent to attract beetles. The beetle, which was previously covered in the pollen of a different water lily, enters the flower. The flower closes with the beetle inside overnight. During the night, the flower turns male and the beetle gets covered in loads of pollen. On day two, the flower turns pink and odourless and opens up, letting the beetle out. The beetle will eventually carry the pollen to another water lily during its female stage. Another interesting feature is that this plant has internal air spaces called lacunae, which help the plant keep afloat on top of the water. The rims are turned up to push the other species aside, and for overall structural support. The spikes on the surface during preliminary growing stages prevent predators from eating them. Two small notches on the leaf prevents flooding on the leaf surface, and pores drain the standing water on the surface as well.
 * Anatomical/Physical Features: **

//Shantihgardens.// (2010). [Photograph]. Retrieved from []

Giant Amazon Water Lilies grow in calm and shallow sites of water that are a few metres deep. They require full sunlight, and neutral to slightly alkaline pH levels of water. As their name implies, they live in the lakes and backwaters of the Amazon river in tropical South America.
 * Where Does It Live? **

//HowStuffWorks//. (2008, March, 30). [Photograph]. Retrieved from []

Giant Amazon Water Lilies were historically depicted in drawings with children sitting on top of the lily pads. A mature leaf can support 45 kilograms, if the weight is evenly distributed. The lily was first discovered in Bolibia in 1801 and named Eurgale amazonica. In honour of Queen Victoria, it was renames Victoria regia. Now, it is called Victoria amazonica. The seeds of the lily can be roasted and eaten.
 * Interesting Facts: **

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 * References: **

//Department of Botany University of Wisconsin-Madison//. (n.d.) Retrieved from [] //Encyclopædia Britannica Online School Edition.// (2010)//.// Retrieved from [] Les, D. (n.d.) //University of Connecticut//. Retrieved from []

Milliken, W. (n.d.) //Kew.// Retrieved from [] Stallard, R. (n.d.) //University of Colorado.// Retrieved from []