White Water Lily

Now is the time of the year when we see a lot of white water lily. This is the most common water lily here in Minnesota. Much of the water lily plant is below the water and is not visible. Attached to the round floating leaves are stalks which reach down through the water to an extensive stem and root system called the rhizomes. The stalks are spongy with four channels which the plant uses to transmit oxygen and carbon dioxide. Flower usually bloom in the morning but close again in the afternoon.