Family: Nymphaeaceae
Common name: Santa Cruz water lily, Water platter, Giant Waterlily, Giant Amazon Lily, Water-platter, Yrupe
Santa cruz water lily plants cannot be described as anything less than AMAZING. Because of the large size of their leaves, they are usually grown in botanical gardens or parks with large water bodies that are undisturbed.
They are native to South America and can grow well in warm waters of tropical countries, or in controlled temperatures.
Plant characteristics
Santa cruz water lilies are well known for their large floating leaves, that can help the plant spread over 8 meters in diameter with large stems that carry the leaves far away from the roots.
The leaves are about 2 meters in diameter with a 20 cm rim around the edges. This rim has 2 notches on either sides to drain away the rain water.
Ideal depth for the plant is 1 meter, planted in loamy, clayey soil. The leaves are green on top but have a purple-red tinge on the lower surface. The platter-like leaves of the Santa cruz water lily can hold about 40 kilograms or a reasonably big child.
All parts of the plant other than the upper surface of the leaves are filled with thorns making them difficult to replant. The upper surface is smooth and water resistant like all water lilies.
Flowers of the Santa Cruz water lily are also equally enchanting. The female flowers bloom in at night and are up to 40 cm in diameter. These flowers are white in color and emit a strong pineapple-like fragrance, attracting bees, beetles, and insects to feast on them.
They close on the first day trapping the beetles inside. And on the second night, they open again without any fragrance, pink in color and more amazingly having undergone a sex change and transformed into a male flower overnight.
The trapped beetles are released to pollinate other female flowers that opened that day.
The Santa cruz water lilies produce seed pods under the surface of the water since pollinated flowers sink below the surface. Seeds are large and spongy with a thick black outer shell to prevent rotting.
Once the seeds mature, the seed pods disintegrate to release the seeds into the soil where they can germinate.
Gardening Tips
These plants are not for the small-scale gardener or the amateur gardener as they need some care and a lot of space to grow. Seeds are difficult to germinate, so it is essential to nick or score them to help the plant break the thick outer shell.
Water temperature has to be maintained at 24 to 30 degree Celsius and hence are ideal for warm, tropical countries. Santa Cruz water lilies need slow moving water without any turbulence, thick loamy soil rich in nutrients, and a lot of space for the leaves to open up fully.
Uses
Tender leaves, rhizomes, seeds were eaten as food in olden times. Seeds are also eaten by fishes and other aquatic animals. Parts of the plant are said to have anti-inflammatory properties. The extra-large leaves provide protection for fishes, hiding them from predators.
Propagation is through through seeds.
Photographed at: KEW gardens, London
