The Lotus Flower at the Wildfowl Trust

The Lotus Flower at the Pointe-à-Pierre Wildfowl Trust, Trinidad
The Pointe-à-Pierre Wild Fowl Trust is an inland fresh water wetland habitat, encompassing 26 hectares and two lakes is uniquely situated on a large petrochemical complex on the west coast of Trinidad.
On its lake one will find the Lotus Flower also known as Nelumbo nucifera. It is an aquatic perennial whose roots are planted in the soil of a pond or river bottom, while the leaves float on top of the water surface. The flowers are usually found on thick stems rising several centimeters above the water. The plant normally grows up to a height of about 150 cm and a horizontal spread of up to 3 meters, but some unverified reports place the height as high as over 5 meters. The leaves may be as large as 60 cm in diameter, while the showy flowers can be up to 20 cm in diameter.