Fragrant Water Lily—flower . . . (Nymphaea spp.) Native to the East of North America,
but invasive in the West.

The leaves of the Fragrant Water Lily form almost perfect circles,
very similar to the patterns made by drops striking the surface
of quiet water. The leaves are on stalks which grow from long
rhizomes anchored in the mud, and have a single notch which
extends to the leaf's center.

The rhythm of Water Lily blossoms is unique, moving in a
mysterious way from implicate to explicate and then back
to implicate realms: Each flower opens and closes for a
number of days until pollinated, whereupon the stem curls
round itself, pulling the flower back into the underwater realm.
An amazing image!

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