It’s a bloomin’ bonanza! One of the largest flowers in North America is in full bloom in Florida’s largest freshwater lake. The American lotus has carpeted parts of blue Lake Okeechobee in shades of white and yellow and green. For a short time, you can check out the sunny aquatic flower and its bowl-like or round and floating green lotus leaves along the lake’s perimeter. This isn’t your average flower. The American lotus produces one of the largest flowers in North America, sometimes blooming to more than 10 inches in diameter! The lotus’ seed pod, which resembles a shower head, is a popular addition to floral arrangements. But the flower only blooms for a little less than two months out of the year. In Lake O, you can come across large patches of the lotus stretching as far as the eye can see. The lotus isn’t just found in this lake. You can see it in other Florida lakes and states like Texas, Oklahoma and as far north as New York. Historical records dating back to the 1700s show that Native Americans frequently used the plant as a food source. The flower is protective habitat for small things that are food for fish and other wildlife, and are economically important to the floral industry. The flower should be blooming until the beginning or middle of July. More photos on Flickr: https://flickr/photos/myfwcmedia/sets/72157645232574622/ #Flower #Plant #FWC #Lotus #AmericanLotus #Florida #Beautiful FWC photos by Katie Johnson
Posted on: Thu, 19 Jun 2014 12:58:50 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015