This is the Santa Cruz Water Lily, taken in the purpose-built greenhouse at Kew Gardens – hence the strong shadows from the glass roof. It is usually found on the lakes and backwaters of the Amazon River but the 65 south circular bus service doesn’t go quite that far. I was inspired to post this by Tina Schell’s excellent impressionistic photograph of lily pads at Travels and Trifles.
I would guess these examples are about four to five feet across – you get a better impression of their size in the second photograph. The Santa Cruz variety is a clever plant – it grows with a dent on the rim edge such that in the event of heavy rain the water will drain off and not submerge the pad; in many ways anything but simple.
(click on images to enlarge)
northumbrian : light 
Impressive plants. I love water lilies. 🙂
I was hoping you would say that you had seen them in the wild up the Amazon 🙂
Nope! PNG was enough equatorial jungle for me. Lush foliage=creepy crawlies.
Lovely lily pads, Robin. They sort of defy reality don’t they.
That’s exactly right Tish, they do – they look as though they were manufactured in the Taiwan Lily Factory.
Another of natures delightfully simple but perfect creations. I always want to step out onto the leaves, dreaming they might hold me. 🙂
They are quite surprising aren’t they – some of the bigger ones will actually hold the weight of a child.
BTW your comment was in my spam folder – Askimet seems to be over zealous with everyone at the moment. Likewise I think you will find my comments on your blog in your spam folder.
Thanks so much for letting me know about your comments, and a second thank you as they were lovely……I found quite a few comments from regular readers had been put there. Very strange!
Lovely photos! Hard to believe that such big Lilly pads actually does exist!!
Yes, they are really surprising, I didn’t know such things existed. Thanks for stopping by and taking the time to comment.
Those are amazing
They are – nature at its weirdest 🙂
Wow…these are so amazingly beautiful
They are quite something aren’t they – thanks for stopping by and commenting