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Victoria Amazonica

Lilly pads only grow in still fresh water
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Lilly pads only grow in still fresh water

Flood plain inland from Amazon, Peru   •  (Photo posted Friday 15 May 2009)   •  (Photo taken 17:38:00 Tuesday 7 April 2009)   •  © 2009 Bryan Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #173800_2600BCX
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Some were intermixed with areas of floating grass
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Some were intermixed with areas of floating grass

Flood plain inland from Amazon, Peru   •  (Photo posted Friday 15 May 2009)   •  (Photo taken 17:38:04 Tuesday 7 April 2009)   •  © 2009 Bryan Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #173804_2601BCX
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After pollination they begin to decompose
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After pollination they begin to decompose

Flood plain inland from Amazon, Peru   •  (Photo posted Friday 15 May 2009)   •  (Photo taken 17:38:08 Tuesday 7 April 2009)   •  © 2009 Bryan Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #173808_2602BCX
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They form a delicate floor atop the water
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They form a delicate floor atop the water

Flood plain inland from Amazon, Peru   •  (Photo posted Friday 15 May 2009)   •  (Photo taken 17:38:12 Tuesday 7 April 2009)   •  © 2009 Bryan Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #173812_2603BCX
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New and old lilly pads mingle
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New and old lilly pads mingle

Flood plain inland from Amazon, Peru   •  (Photo posted Friday 15 May 2009)   •  (Photo taken 17:38:18 Tuesday 7 April 2009)   •  © 2009 Bryan Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #173818_2604BCX
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Decomposing lilly pads become food for the new
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Decomposing lilly pads become food for the new

Flood plain inland from Amazon, Peru   •  (Photo posted Friday 15 May 2009)   •  (Photo taken 17:39:16 Tuesday 7 April 2009)   •  © 2009 Bryan Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #173916_2606BCX
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Hollow vein structures underneath help them float
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Hollow vein structures underneath help them float

Flood plain inland from Amazon, Peru   •  (Photo posted Friday 15 May 2009)   •  (Photo taken 17:40:42 Tuesday 7 April 2009)   •  © 2009 Bryan Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #174042_2612BCX
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Sharp spines underneath protect from predators
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Sharp spines underneath protect from predators

Flood plain inland from Amazon, Peru   •  (Photo posted Friday 15 May 2009)   •  (Photo taken 17:41:26 Tuesday 7 April 2009)   •  © 2009 Bryan Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #174126_2613BCX
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White flowers attract beetles to a carbohydrate feast
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White flowers attract beetles to a carbohydrate feast

The flower closes and traps the beetles overnight   •  Flood plain inland from Amazon, Peru   •  (Photo posted Friday 15 May 2009)   •  (Photo taken 17:54:32 Tuesday 7 April 2009)   •  © 2009 Bryan Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #175432_2624BCX
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A dark pink flower has not yet released its beetles
(10 of 15) (14254 views)

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A dark pink flower has not yet released its beetles

Flood plain inland from Amazon, Peru   •  (Photo posted Friday 15 May 2009)   •  (Photo taken 10:48:52 Friday 10 April 2009)   •  © 2009 Bryan Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #104852_3255BCX
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The flower too is protected by underwater spines
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The flower too is protected by underwater spines

Flood plain inland from Amazon, Peru   •  (Photo posted Friday 15 May 2009)   •  (Photo taken 10:49:50 Friday 10 April 2009)   •  © 2009 Bryan Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #104950_3258BCX
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The beetle, once freed, pollinates another white flower
(12 of 15) (12141 views)

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The beetle, once freed, pollinates another white flower

Flood plain inland from Amazon, Peru   •  (Photo posted Friday 15 May 2009)   •  (Photo taken 10:50:22 Friday 10 April 2009)   •  © 2009 Bryan Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #105022_3261BCX
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The Cyclocephala beetle plucked from its dining room
(13 of 15) (12103 views)

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The Cyclocephala beetle plucked from its dining room

Flood plain inland from Amazon, Peru   •  (Photo posted Friday 15 May 2009)   •  (Photo taken 10:51:20 Friday 10 April 2009)   •  © 2009 Bryan Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #105120_3266BCX
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The Cyclocephala beetle is a harmless herbivore
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The Cyclocephala beetle is a harmless herbivore

Flood plain inland from Amazon, Peru   •  (Photo posted Friday 15 May 2009)   •  (Photo taken 10:51:36 Friday 10 April 2009)   •  © 2009 Bryan Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #105136_3273BCX
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The Cyclocephala beetle
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The Cyclocephala beetle

Flood plain inland from Amazon, Peru   •  (Photo posted Friday 15 May 2009)   •  (Photo taken 10:51:50 Friday 10 April 2009)   •  © 2009 Bryan Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #105150_3278BCX
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