WATER LILY GARDEN

LILIES IN THEIR NATURAL HABITAT

The Water Lily Garden features water lilies in their natural aquatic environment. Garden shelters are designed in the undulating shape of the water lily leaf, while the meandering tiled walkway resembles radiating ripples on water after a pebble is tossed into a pond.

The garden's design is inspired by waves of water and undulating shape of the water lily leaf. The meandering tiled walkways resemble radiating ripples on water after a pebble has been tossed into a pond. The garden shelters are in the shape of the water lily leaf.

The plants featured in this garden have adapted to freshwater environments where they grow as marginal, submerged or floating plants. Scientifically referred as Hydrophytes, these plants have the Aerenchyma - a spongy tissue which keeps them afloat and enables them to flourish in oxygen-poor soils. They include the Amazon Water Lily—one of the largest aquatic plants in the world, the Sacred Lotus, and the Screw Pine, which is second only to the coconut in terms of cultural and economic importance in the Pacific region.

Many aquatic plants are used as food. Examples include the Lotus, Rice and Yam. The Water Hyacinth is used as animal feed and for water reclamation. The Screwpine is used as construction material for houses, flavouring and food wrapping, weaving baskets and clothes.

Aquatic vegetation is important for stabilising land along rivers, ponds and lakes, creating water catchment and generating organic material needed by fishes and animals, as well as to oxygenate water. Aquatic plants support a wide diversity of wildlife by providing spawning, refuge, and foraging grounds for many fishes and animals that are important in the food chain.

Pandan

Pandanus spp

Pandan, also known as screw pine is a group of about 750 species of plants that are native to the tropics. Pandans can be in the form of small, grassy-like plants of 0.3 metres to large clumps as tall as 20 metres in height. Distinctive features of the plant include flat sharp or serrated edge leaves and thick, prop or adventitious roots that provide support for the plant.

The plant is dioecious, with male and female flowers produced on different plants. The fruit is edible and have many prism-like sections, resembling the fruit of the pineapple.

Almost every part of the plant can be used. Leaves of the Fragrant Pandan - Pandanus amaryllifolius are used to flavour and wrap food. Leaves of the Giant Pandan - Pandanus tectorius is used for making wicker ware baskets, food containers and for roof thatching. The plant fibre is very strong and it is used for making rope, paper, sailcloth and other material.

Interestingly, the pandan is of cultural, health, and economic importance in the Pacific region, second only to the Coconut - Cocos nucifera.

Sedge

Cyperus spp.

Sedges are a group of grassy plants of about 700 species found all over the world. Most grow in wet areas or slow-moving water. The species vary greatly in size, with small species at only 5 centimetres tall, while others reach 5 metres in height. Common names include Papyrus Sedge - Cyperus papyrus, Umbrella Sedge - Cyperus alternifolius and Nut Sedge - Cyperus rotundus.

Papyrus sedge was of major historical importance in making Papyrus which was used in ancient Egypt for writing. Currently, there has been a revival in the use of fast-growing sedges in large scale production of paper and biofuels.

Sedges are used in Mexico for weaving sleeping mats and Sombrero hats. In India, sedge plant fibre is used for making rope and for weaving cloth. Several species of sedges have edible tubers and juicy stems which are farmed and eaten as vegetables. The juice of the plant is used to make candy or a special beverage called Horchata in Valencia, Spain. Parts of certain sedges are used in folk medicine and roots of aromatic sedges are used as incense in tribal rites and worship.

Sedges are an important source of food for many animals, especially birds.

Tea Tree

Leptospermum spp.

The tea tree belongs to a group of plants comprising about 90 species which are native to Australia, New Zealand and Southeast Asia. They are usually in the form of shrubs or small trees, reaching a height of between 1 metre to 8 metres, with dense branching and bright green, sharp-tipped small leaves. The flowers are usually about 3 centimetres wide with white, pink or red petals.

The name 'tea tree' is derived from early Australian settlers who soaked the leaves of several species in boiling water to make a herbal tea rich in Vitamin C. It is mentioned that Captain Cook (1728 - 1779) brewed a special tea of Leptospermum leaves to prevent scurvy among his crew.

The nectar from the flowers is harvested by bees and used in the manufacture of Leptospermum honey which has very high antibacterial properties. The oil extracted from the plant also has high antibacterial properties and is used in cosmetics and skincare.

Tea trees are good for land reclamation works where they are noted to tolerate and remove the high levels of toxic metals present in polluted environments.

Lotus

Nelumbo nucifera

The lotus or sacred lotus is native to Asia and Australia where it is highly regarded by many religions. The plant grows in muddy soils of ponds or slow moving rivers, with the leaves and flowers above the water surface. There are many varieties of lotus with some growing as tall as 5 metres and as short as 0.6 metres, with colours of the flowers ranging from pure white to the brightest pink.

The lotus is sacred to Buddhists, Christians and Hindus which represents divine perfection, purity and beauty. The blooming lotus represents the expansion of the soul and the exaltation of growth from the mud of its origin. The plant and flower is prominently featured in Chinese and Indian art, architecture, literature and mythology, with various types of lotus flowers depicted as the seat of Gods and Goddesses. The lotus is the national flower of India and Vietnam.

The flowers, seeds, young leaves, and rhizomes of the plant are edible and an important food dource. It also has medicinal properties which is used in traditional Asian herbal medicine.

Yam

Alocasia spp., Colocasia spp.

The yam is a group of 80 species of plants with thick underground stems and large broad leaves, usually found growing in wetlands and marshy areas of tropical and subtropical Asia to Eastern Australia.

The heart shaped leaves can range in size from 0.2 metres to 0.9 metres on long stalks. The inconspicuous, heart shaped flowers are usually hidden behind the leaf stalks. Taro, the juicy underground stem is edible, but contains a chemical irritant that can cause mouth and throat numbing if eaten raw. Thorough boiling is necessary for the removal of the chemical irritant.

In many countries, yam is an important food crop that is cultivated along with rice and lotus. Early Romans consumed taro in much the same way we eat potatoes today. Taro is also used in the manufacture and flavouring of confectionary such as cakes and ice cream.