Description
The water lily (Nymphaea odorata) is an exceptionally beautiful water plant, crowning Laurentian lakes from early summer to mid-autumn with showy pink or white flowers and round green leaves that can reach up to 28 cm (11 in) in diameter.
Each flower blooms for only three days, opening in the morning and closing in the afternoon. Its attractive cup-like form is designed for a unique pollination process. On the first day, a sweet-smelling fluid is released to attract pollen-laden insects that are washed clean and fertilize the stigmas. On the second and third days, the flower releases pollen which is carried away by insects that visit the plant. After this brief blooming period, the plant’s stalks recoil thereby pulling the flower under water where its seeds mature and are released into the lake.
Throughout North America, many First Nations communities used the water lily’s roots, leaves and flowers for medicinal purposes. Even the rhizomes, young leaves and lower buds were eaten, and the seeds were fried or ground into flour.
The water lily is one of the plants featured in the encyclopaedic Flore laurentienne written by Brother Marie-Victorin (1885-1944), one of Canada’s greatest botanists and founder of Montreal’s historic Botanical Garden. Seventy-five years after the book’s publication in 1935, Marie-Victorin’s monumental work remains a cornerstone reference in university botany courses—and one of the 2,800 illustrations that grace its pages is the charming water lily.
Special features:
- Features two special effects: a colored design enhanced with three CRYSTALLIZED™ - Swarovski Elements.
- A unique keepsake honouring Canada’s botanical heritage.
specifications:
Face Value: 20 dollars
Mintage: 10,000
Composition: 99.99% pure silver
Weight (g): 31.39
Diameter (mm): 38
Edge: Serrated
Finish: Proof
