Water Lillies from Brook Lodge

Early summer, Brook Lodge's water is relatively clear; it is extemely easy to travel by canoe all over the fen.  However, as of mid June, the waters have been extremely congested with lillies!

The two major lillies found in Brook lodge are:

1) Nelumbo lutea     Common name: "American Lotus" or "Lotus-lily"

http://www.lakenormansweb.com/lake_norman/aquatic_plants/american_lotus.php

It was once suggested that perhaps lotus in Michigan was introduced by Indians as a food-plant but there's no documentation of this.  This particular species may have been introduced to Kalamazoo County in 1829 after the construction of a pond in Vicksburg.  This species is listed as "threatened" in the state and is protected under the Michigan Endangered Species Act of 1974.

2) Nymphaea odorata    Common name: N/A

http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=NYOD

Be sure to give these fresh flowers a whiff; they smell lovely!  This plant produces rhizomes that are so massive, many confuse them with branches floating on the surface of the wetland.