The water lily has a fleshy tuber, or Woodstock, buried in the mud. The Tuber of some kinds is used as food because of its high starch content. The large, shield-like leaves grow under the water or floating. A single flower of great beauty is usually raised above the water. Some species bloom in the day and close their flowers at night; others bloom at night and close their blossoms in the day. The flowers range in color, though the white-flowered water lily is most common.
The water lily grows in both temperate and tropical zones all over the world. The white, fragrant Nymphaea odorata are common in eastern North America. The yellow Nuphar advenum is common to the eastern States and Canada. Victoria regia, the giant water lily of the Amazon, grows to tremendous size, with leaves six feet in diameter and flowers 18 inches across. The lotus of Egypt, India and China comes under the general classification of water lily.
