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Article: The aquatic nymph.(water lily)
- Article from:
- The World and I
- Article date:
- August 1, 1998
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 1998 News World Communications, Inc. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Revered as sacred, admired for its beauty, the water lily has the ability to germinate nearly anywhere still water and bright sunlight are available.
The water lily first enchanted me on a sultry midday excursion to the abundant freshwater wetlands in an area near Aiken, South Carolina. A fresh graduate student at the Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, I was scouting out research sites. As I walked into a bay, I could feel the warm water seeping into my boots and soaking my field pants. Past the dry grasses ringing the bay, I saw a profusion of white water lilies sunbathing, their many petals forming bright floating teacups.
Upon closer inspection, I ...