Why is water lily called Sleeping Beauty?
Why is water lily called Sleeping Beauty? In real life, water lily is also a common aquatic plant that many people love. A kind of flower, its beauty is beyond doubt, so let’s share with you why water lily is called Sleeping Beauty. Why is water lily called Sleeping Beauty 1
Water lily, also known as Meridian lily and cress flower, is a perennial aquatic plant. Water lily is a precious flower among aquatic flowers. It looks similar to a lotus, but the difference is that the leaves and flowers of the lotus stick out of the water, while the leaves and flowers of the water lily float on the water.
Water lilies are known as the "sleeping beauty among flowers" because they relax during the day and curl up at night. The water lilies blooming in the clear water and green leaves are like fairies in the water. They are either dressed in white or pink, and they are really beautiful. The water lily likes sunshine and a well-ventilated place. Its schedule is very regular. At eight or nine o'clock every morning, the sun rises high. The water lily wakes up slowly and begins to bloom slowly. By noon, all the gorgeous flowers bloom.
And in the evening, as twilight falls, under the cover of night, it closes its petals and goes to sleep, hence the name water lily. This opening and closing pattern of water lilies is due to their particularly sensitive response to sunlight. In the morning, the outside of the closed water lily petals are exposed to sunlight and grow slowly, while the inside layer is facing away from the sun, but it stretches rapidly, so the flower blooms.
At noon, the petals unfold into a large disk. At this time, the inner layer of the water lily is exposed to sunlight and its growth slows down. On the contrary, the outer layer gradually stretches beyond the inner layer and slowly closes automatically.
Why water lilies can emit charming fragrance
Flowering plants are also called angiosperms, among which water lilies are an important node in the origin and evolution of angiosperms; the color and fragrance of flowers are Horticultural plants are very important traits, and understanding the molecular mechanisms behind them is the first step in molecular genetic breeding. Arabidopsis and rice, known as "plant guinea pigs", have almost no flower color or fragrance, so relevant research cannot be carried out. However, water lilies have been developed into products such as water lily tea and perfume due to their wide variety of flower colors and strong fragrance, which have important economic and cultural value. , is an ideal material for studying flower color and fragrance.
By comparing the transcriptomes of the naturally mutated white petals Blue Star Water Lily and blue petals, Zhang Liangsheng’s team discovered two important genes in the blue petal synthesis pathway. With the genome, we can predict the flower color and fragrance synthesis genes of water lilies based on the comparative analysis of homologous species and the already known flower color and fragrance synthesis pathway genes in model plants.
Since there are similarities and differences in the flower color and fragrance components between water lilies and model plants, it is necessary to use different methods to analyze the genetic differences behind them, that is, to find the 'regulatory switch'. Why is water lily called Sleeping Beauty 2
The reason why water lily opens early and closes late
The early opening and late closing of water lily is related to the physiological mechanism of water lily itself. Water lily is very sensitive to light and will After the sun rises, the petals begin to unfold. After the sun goes down, the petals slowly close and remain closed throughout the night. The leaves of water lilies are green, and the flowers are beautiful and colorful. They are suitable for growing water lilies indoors for people to watch.
Water lily is a perennial aquatic herbaceous plant that is very sensitive to light. Water lilies love light and are suitable for growing in a warm, moist and well-lit environment. The petals of water lilies will open in the morning and close at night. This is related to the physiological mechanism of the water lily itself. It will open or close the flowers according to the intensity of light. If there is no light at night, the petals of the water lily will close.
The leaves of water lilies are closed to adapt to the environment. Water lilies are very sensitive to light. When the sun rises in the morning, the water lilies will gradually expand their petals. When the light is strong at noon, the petals of the water lily will be fully open. In the afternoon, after the sun goes down, the petals of the water lily will slowly close. After the light disappears completely and the temperature is cooler at night, the petals of the water lily will close tightly.
Water lilies are perennial herbaceous plants with green leaves, beautiful flowers and rich colors, and are of high ornamental value. Water lilies are aquatic plants that can be kept at home or in the yard for people to watch. They can relax people and relieve physical and mental stress. Keeping water lilies indoors can also regulate air humidity and purify indoor air.
Water lilies love warmth and are suitable for growing in a warm, well-ventilated and well-lit environment.
When growing water lilies indoors, you should pay attention to opening windows frequently to maintain indoor air circulation. Water lilies like light. During the growth period, water lilies need to be moved outdoors to a location with sufficient light for maintenance. Sufficient light is beneficial to the growth of water lily leaves and can extend the flowering period. Why is the water lily called the Sleeping Beauty 3
Why is the water lily called the water lily?
Water lily (scientific name: Nymphaea alba), also known as Meridiana and cress, is a perennial aquatic plant belonging to the genus Nymphaeaceae of the Nymphaea family. Plants, water lilies are rare flowers among aquatic flowers. It looks similar to a lotus, but the difference is that the leaves and flowers of the lotus stick out of the water, while the leaves and flowers of the water lily float on the water. Water lilies are known as the "sleeping beauty among flowers" because they relax during the day and curl up at night.
Water lilies have a wide range of uses and can be used for food, tea, cut flowers, medicinal purposes, etc. Water lilies are the most widely distributed genus in the Nymphaeaceae family. Traces of water lilies can be found all over the world except Antarctica. The water lily is also the national flower of Egypt, an ancient civilization. If water lilies are kept out of water for more than 1 hour, they may lose water absorption and the ability to open.
Why do water lilies close at night?
Cold-resistant water lilies bloom during the day and close at night; tropical water lilies have both day-opening varieties and night-opening varieties. There are probably two reasons:
1. In tropical areas, the daytime temperature is high, so most water lilies in this area bloom at night and close during the day; on the contrary, in the cold zone, the night temperature is low and the daytime is warmer, so this area water lilies bloom during the day.
2. Water lily is an insect-pollinated flower. The opening time of the flower is consistent with the activity pattern of the insects that pollinate it, which is conducive to its reproduction.
3. There may be other reasons, but this physiological characteristic is the result of natural selection in the long-term evolution process and is an adaptation to different environments.
Can water lilies sleep?
Water lilies have a very peculiar habit, that is, they can sleep. Of course, water lilies don't sleep like humans.
Every evening when the sun sets and night falls, the water lily will slowly retract its petals in the darkness of night until the petals close. At 8 or 9 o'clock every morning, the sun gradually becomes brighter, and the water lilies will slowly wake up and gradually raise their heads. By noon, the water lilies will bloom into beautiful flowers. This is the process from "sleeping" to "waking up" of water lilies.
Because of the water lily’s characteristic of waking up at sunrise and closing at sunset, just like people sleeping, the name water lily is very appropriate.
The ornamental and cultural value of water lilies
Water lilies are ornamental plants with beautiful flowers and leaves. Ancient Greece and Rome originally worshiped the goddess. In the 16th century, Italian parks were mostly used to decorate fountain pools or decorate the exteriors of halls. Nowadays, it is very common to use water lilies as waterscape theme materials in European and American gardens.
Our country has been used in private gardens in the Han Dynasty 2000 years ago, such as the five-color water lily pond in the Huoguang Garden of Bolu Hou. Ancient Egypt cultivated water lilies more than 2,000 years ago and regarded them as a symbol of the sun and a sacred flower. They were used as offerings or decorations in dynastic coronation ceremonies, folk carvings and murals.
On a hot summer day, the breeze blows, the blue waves ripple, and clusters of beautiful water lilies dance lightly with their leaves. Their figures are charming, just like the Lingbo fairy. Hengtang Road, but watching, the fragrance goes away", "Easy as a god, walking slightly on the waves" and other ancient poems. There are more than 7 species of plants in the same genus as water lily in my country, such as white water lily, red water lily, yellow water lily, etc. All are available for viewing.
Sleeping in water lilies is actually a stress response of plants like mimosa and flytrap. Facing changes in the natural environment, some components in the plants will change. In addition, these performances of the plants also reflect plant's survival instinct. At the same time, it also gives us more meaning to watch them, doesn’t it?