Book 17, Question 98
How Can a Giant Water Lily Leaf Be So Big and So Strong?
The giant Amazon water lily has floating leaves up to 10 feet wide, and they are surprisingly strong! The secret is a hidden web of ribs underneath. The ribs spread out the weight, like the spokes of a wheel.
More fun facts
- The giant waterlily's leaves can grow up to three meters wide and hold the weight of a small child.
- Each leaf has an upturned rim and a waxy top with a pattern like a quilt.
- Underneath, the leaf is purplish red, with strong ribs and sharp spines.
- Air trapped in the spaces between the ribs helps the huge leaf float.
- Long underwater stalks, up to eight meters long, anchor the leaves.
- In June, a giant waterlily can grow a leaf two meters wide in just seven days.
- Its leaves are said to have inspired the design of the Crystal Palace, built for the Great Exhibition in 1851.
Sources: Kew Gardens
Questions kids ask
What color are giant waterlily flowers?
They open white at night to attract a beetle, then turn pink after releasing their pollen.