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= The Lily load =

The discovery of the Lily load
Dr Theodore Getherton was wandering the plains of Kenya when he decided to go for a spot of canoeing. While he was canoeing on lake Victoria he noticed the lily-load Plant. The plant fascinated him due to its structural prowess and the overall perfection of evolution. The lily-load also know as the Lilium De Monte Deos.

The anatomy of the Lily load
The Lily load my seem like a normal Lily pad from the top down but in reality is much more complex. Starting from the roots, the roots of the Lily load stretch far out along the bottom of the lakebed providing a sturdy structure to uphold the heavy leaves and keep it rooted in strong surges of water. The reinforced stem made up of a thick outer layer of plant cells so that it is not chewed through by water critters. The first pad is always the largest of the pads due to the plants cycle of growth. Ducts in the pads prevent them from being weighed down by water and sinking especially in heavy rain. Another reason these plants don’t sink is due to their lipped edges Also found on lily pads that stop water from spilling in. Lastly the flower at the very tip of the plant attracts bees and water critters with its colours and ensure they brush the pollen due to the long stems of the style.

Growth cycle of a Lily load
the Lily load has a unique and continuous growth cycle. When the Lily load first germinates it starts growing through the water towards the sunlight. After around a week the beginnings of the first pad start sprouting. The first pad starts off as leaves underwater that gradually grow towards the surface where the join together to make the first and smallest pad. After the first pad had successfully been established the second quickly starts growing. The first is raised above the water level as the second rises. After around 8 weeks two pads will have grown and the flower bud will start to form.