<< Previous Next >>

Amazon Water Lily Leaf


Amazon Water Lily Leaf
Photo Information
Copyright: Manyee Desandies (manyee) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3103 W: 234 N: 5930] (20016)
Genre: Plants
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2005-12-22
Categories: Water Plants
Camera: Canon Powershot S1-IS
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Nature Geometric [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2006-01-06 4:06
Viewed: 1190
Points: 26
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
This shot was taken at the Conservatory of Flowers at the Golden Gate Park in San Francisco.

Giant Amazon Water Lily
Victoria amazonica Nymphaeaceae

Brazil

The Victoria amazonica made its North American public flowering debut at the Conservatory in the 1880s. They are native to estuaries of the Amazon River where there is little disturbance or traffic.

Amazon water lily leaves range from four to eight feet in diameter (generally not much more than six feet in diameter); they have characteristic upturned edges; the underside of the pad has a system of strong hollow veins, which support the large pads and can hold large amounts of weight such as nesting birds. Sharp thorns cover everything except the flower petals and the tops of the pads.

Flowers range between 10-16 inches in diameter and bloom for two days. On the first night, the flower unfurls and scarab beetles are drawn to its pineapple scent and pure white color. They are also drawn to its warmth. The inside of the flower can be a cozy 98° while the air temperature is 80º. Later that night, the flower cools, closes, and the beetles are trapped inside. On the second day, the flower changes color from white to pink.

The flower reopens the following evening, the anthers release their pollen and the beetles fly off covered with pollen.
The Victoria has 'perfect bisexual flowers,' each flower contains both female and male sexual organs. On the first night when the flower opens (cream color) its female organs are active while on the second night (pink to reddish color) its male organs are active. The flower produces special starches and sugars solely for the scarab beetle to eat, and they surround the receptive female stigma (there are several beetles that pollinate the flowers - typical among them are Cyclocephalus hardyi, Cyclocephalus verticalis, Ligyrus sp. and Castanae sp.).

Source
red45, marhowie, livios, peter_stoeckl, PDP, liquidsunshine has marked this note useful
Only registered TrekNature members may rate photo notes.
Add Critique [Critiquing Guidelines] 
Only registered TrekNature members may write critiques.
Discussions
None
You must be logged in to start a discussion.

Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • red45 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2816 W: 75 N: 7977] (26975)
  • [2006-01-06 4:44]

Excellent idea with close-up Manyee. This water plant looks great - I like its geometric 'cells' and intense green colour. Nice one!

The detailed texture is really cool the green color and croc skin pattern of this water lily are well exposed under great lighting. Well done Manyee. :)

Nice closeup ManYee showing great detail. Good symmetry seen here in the segmented parts that make-up the leaf..Well done.
Thank You!

Hi Manyee,
A very artistic and beautiful composition. A great shot of pattern and texture. The colors are vivid, and detail is very sharp. Great noets as always. This is really cool!
Scott

Very good pattern and texture shot. Looks like a Jigsaw Puzzle

Great detail, colour and lighting.

TFS

  • Great 
  • livios Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2306 W: 324 N: 4306] (16856)
  • [2006-01-06 10:05]

Manyee, you're becoming a master in this kind of composition.

This is another great one. Excellent close up.

The effect is very beautiful, as well as colors and pov.

Congratulations.

A very interesting shot illustrating the sructures of life, Manyee! I've added it at once to my collection. And very good notes, too. Thank you, and best regards,
Peter

  • Great 
  • PDP Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2951 W: 366 N: 3779] (11763)
  • [2006-01-06 11:02]

HI Manyee, very interesting texture, looks a little like crocodile skin. Nice image, well done.

Very nice shot Manyee,
Good detail, colours and sharpness.
Composition and exposure are spot on.
Thanks for posting, have a great weekend.

Great green porous texture of this plant, great job capturing it.

  • Great 
  • EOSF1 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1427 W: 128 N: 5252] (23221)
  • [2006-01-06 20:01]

Very well seen, the texture that those plants do is simply beautiful. Good work !

Mario

Great texture shot! ...and wonderful rich color. I've been to the conservatory, with you as a matter of fact...so how come I don't have a good picture like that...huh? : )

Interesting patterns and shapes here, Manyee looksw like someone gott hols of a staple gun and stapled all the green squares together!
Best for 2006

What a good idea to submit such unusual view! Looks like some landscape of a distant green planet (with ramified irrigation system)...

Calibration Check
















0123456789ABCDEF