Silverleaf Waterlily

This big flower grows up to 6.8 feet (2.1 meters) tall. Its silver stem is thin, and the tiny, pink-red leaves are long, tapering with smooth edges. A pair of leaves grow at the base of the stem.

6 to 12 tiny flowers grow on alternate sides up the length of the stem. The flowers are 45 cm (17.7 inches) wide, with petals that are beige at the sides and green at the center. The flower head is an uncoordinated mess of 17 curved petals. They are sturdy.

It has a mildly strong scent that smells like new books, and it has very little pollen, but can cause allergic reactions. It is pollinated by a small species of bird, but is also particularly attractive to butterflies.