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The water spots were fascinating... looked like ice. The reason why is interesting as well.
This is a leaf from an **American lotus** (*Nelumbo lutea*), a plant that is very common in the lakes and marshes of Brazos Bend State Park.
While often mistaken for a common water lily, there are a few key ways to identify it from this photo:
* **Circular Shape:** Unlike water lilies, which usually have a "V-shaped" notch or slit leading to the center, lotus leaves are perfectly circular with the stem attached directly to the middle of the underside.
* **Water Repellency:** You can see perfectly round water droplets on the surface. This is due to the **lotus effect**, where microscopic structures on the leaf surface make it extremely water-repellent (ultrahydrophobic).
* **Size:** These leaves can grow quite large—up to 2 feet in diameter—and often stand several feet above the water on stiff stalks, though they also float on the surface as seen here.
In late spring and summer, these pads are accompanied by large, fragrant yellow-white flowers.
This is a leaf from an **American lotus** (*Nelumbo lutea*), a plant that is very common in the lakes and marshes of Brazos Bend State Park.
While often mistaken for a common water lily, there are a few key ways to identify it from this photo:
* **Circular Shape:** Unlike water lilies, which usually have a "V-shaped" notch or slit leading to the center, lotus leaves are perfectly circular with the stem attached directly to the middle of the underside.
* **Water Repellency:** You can see perfectly round water droplets on the surface. This is due to the **lotus effect**, where microscopic structures on the leaf surface make it extremely water-repellent (ultrahydrophobic).
* **Size:** These leaves can grow quite large—up to 2 feet in diameter—and often stand several feet above the water on stiff stalks, though they also float on the surface as seen here.
In late spring and summer, these pads are accompanied by large, fragrant yellow-white flowers.