Recently, "Sapphire"- a new species of water lilies cultivated by Wuhan Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences - won the only gold award in the lotus and water ornamental plants contest show at the Xi'an International Horticultural Exposition.

The show attracted over 20 exhibitors from Germany, France, Britain, Switzerland, Sweden, Italy and, domestically, from Beijing, Zhejiang, Hubei, Anhui and Shandong etc. More than 800 pots, 100-plus varieties of lotus, water lily, Victoria amazonica and other new excellent varieties of water ornamental plants were presented, demonstrating a water landscape "feast", as that described in an ancient poem - "lingering fragrance from afar where the pure lotuses gracefully and quietly bloom."

"Sapphire" is a new specie derived from the large tropical water lily. Its leaf is 2.5 meters in width when fully extended. The specie is dense. With blue flowers and green leaves, it looks dignified and particularly gorgeous. The petiole is edible and the flower can be used to make tea.

Edited by Fu Bo and Tania Lee

New water lily wins gold award in Xi'an Expo