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Flower of the Giant Water Lily


Flower of the Giant Water Lily
Photo Information
Copyright: Manyee Desandies (manyee) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3089 W: 230 N: 6774] (23770)
Genre: Plants
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2005-10-23
Categories: Flowers
Camera: Canon Powershot S1-IS
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): 40-49 Points (Chapter 6), 50-60 Puntos (chapter 6) [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2005-11-04 3:34
Viewed: 6471
Favorites: 3 [view]
Points: 52
[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
TAZ, coasties, scottevers7, hummingbird24, marhowie, wishnugaruda, livios, nofer, mukesh, cecilia, gerhardt, Mousehill, Janice, fiyo, alejandroguzman, greghume has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • TAZ Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2241 W: 47 N: 3167] (10926)
  • [2005-11-04 3:44]

Wow ! What a wonderful and interesting shot ! Congratulations Manye and thanks for sharing this beauty.

" the Life is so rare in the universe and the Nature so precious, take care of them! " Christian...

Hi Manyee

What a beautiful close shot. You have composed this perfectly. Lovely depth of colour. Sharpness and detail are well done. Very nice work. Congrats!

Hi Manyee,
WOW! awesome color and detail in this closeup. I really like the tight crop on this frame filling shot. Beautiful!
Scott

  • Great 
  • ryyck Silver Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 24 W: 0 N: 176] (994)
  • [2005-11-04 8:53]

Bela imagem, cores, enquadramento, nitidez... Tudo perfeito!!!

Hi Manyee!
Sorry, no time for decent critique, but enough to give you well deserved smiley :)

//Superb shot with amazing colours //

Hello Manyee!

Gorgeous flower and great note!

Exceptional colors, POV, lighting and composition.

I wouldn't ming being trapped for an evening in such a lovely, warm place as this, imagine the adventure...

Thank you for sharing this with us.

Fantastic colors Manyee. Very well detailed and composed closeup. Just beautiful. Very well done & Thank You.

Hi Manyee,
I love it, this is the perfect flower.
The colours ar so marvelous, a masterpeace of mother nature. I also had a similar flower here together with a historic egypt story, perhaps you have seen it. Very well done, I enjoyed it very much to look at, bye
Sabine - wishnugaruda

  • Great 
  • livios Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2150 W: 319 N: 4263] (16942)
  • [2005-11-04 11:25]

Manyee, to me, one of your best shots so far.

Congratulations.

I do enjoy colors, pov and composition.

It's a very beautiful and suggesive image.

What a beautiful shot. I like the colours. Interesting note too. Well done.

Wow! This is absolutely gorgeous Manyee, this is just stunning. Paul :)

  • Great 
  • Athila Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 335 W: 239 N: 493] (1982)
  • [2005-11-04 15:04]

I M P R E S S I V E !

Focus and exposure are great. Central composition is well indicated here. And I love the color contrast.

Great shot and TFS

  • Great 
  • nofer Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1190 W: 366 N: 811] (2307)
  • [2005-11-04 19:19]
  • [2]

UUUUFFFFFFFFFFAAAAAAAAAA!!!!
Cores maravilhosas!!!!
Muito boa macro... muito boa foto!
EXCELENTE!
Obrigado!
TFS
Reynaldo

A fascinating shot Manyee - wondeful sharpness and composition. The colours are so bright and pleasing. It is a lovely flower. TFS
Mukesh

Like it very much. The lighting is spot on...
Well done...
Cesie

  • Great 
  • Toni Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 403 W: 2 N: 316] (2034)
  • [2005-11-06 16:53]

Hi Manyee
Lovely colours. Good DOV and sharpness. Nice effect just-off centre.
Regards Toni

This is very nicely done, Manyee. It catches the eye. Great one.

  • Great 
  • RII Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 481 W: 0 N: 895] (2862)
  • [2005-11-13 14:43]

Hi Manyee.
WOWWWWW !!!Fantastic color...great foto..the depth of colour is beatiful.
congratulations...Ricardo.

one word - wow. Excellent colours!

Superb colours and a well chosen crop for this image. A great flower image!

  • Great 
  • Janice Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3277 W: 148 N: 6163] (18832)
  • [2005-11-23 4:11]

Manyee, I love this! It is so beautiful, with such stunning coloours. Well done.

What are the proper words now: vivid, radiant, splendid, supercalifragilisticexpiralidolcius ? :) I think a little bit of all...

  •      
  • fiyo Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1053 W: 5 N: 3475] (15161)
  • [2005-11-23 9:33]

Hi Manyee,
amazing close up; sharpness, colors, light, composition, everything is good! TFS:)

Hi Manyee:

Reading all the comment and critic posted in this picture, I just have to say:

AMAZING, STUNNING, MAGNIFICENT and SUPERB PICTURE


Hugs
Alejandro

  • Great 
  • zeca Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 373 W: 14 N: 539] (2887)
  • [2005-12-25 23:25]

Wonderful shot! Amazing colours and sharpness! Very well done picture! A gift to the eyes...Tfs!
Zeca

  • Great 
  • rimas Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 157 W: 3 N: 667] (5094)
  • [2006-09-04 8:33]

Hi Manyee ,
Great shot, wonderful composition and light, beautiful colours. Fantastic image.
Congratulations

Hi Manyee
Wonderful capture of this giant bloom. The life cycle and interaction with its pollinators is fascinating. Thanks for sharing.
Greg

What a beautiful close shot. You have composed this perfectly. Lovely depth of colour.

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