X
Xiahou Dun
Guest
Wednesday October 6, 2010
Water lilies a sight to behold
GEORGE TOWN: In the middle of a pond in the lush Tropical Spice Garden in Teluk Bahang here, one can find two giant water lilies, the largest in the world. Katharine Chua, the manager of the Tropical Spice Garden, said it was the only place on the island where the public can view the plant.
She said the two Victoria amazonica lilies were germinated in December 2008 in a small fish tank, when the leaves were a mere 5cm in diameter. “Nine months later, they were transferred to the pond. The largest pads currently measure about 90cm in diameter,” said Chua.
What a beauty: The giant water lilies at the lush Tropical Spice Garden in Teluk Bahang.
Curator Kenneth Khoo said the pads could reach up to 2.1m or more. “However, it will depend on the number of leaves that grow from the water lily. The fewer the leaves, the larger the size of each pad as they can get more nutrients,” he said.
Khoo added that space was another factor that would affect the size of the pad. “They flower non-stop, the colour is white at first and turns pink by the next day. “At nightfall, the flowers open to release a fragrance reminiscent of pineapples,” said Khoo.
The Botanic Gardens will also house the plant when its RM7mil beautification and expansion project is completed later this month. The water lily will be placed in a new pool where the demolished arches used to be.
Botanic Gardens chief controller Datuk Tengku Idaura Tengku Ibrahim said the Tourism Ministry had appointed a private consultant to bring in a mature species of the plant from overseas, and the public should be able to view it by December.
