Most species of water lilies have rounded, variously notched, waxy-coated leaves on long stalks that contain many air spaces and float in quiet freshwater habitats. The stalks arise from thick, fleshy, creeping underwater stems that are buried in the mud. The showy, fragrant, solitary flowers are borne at or above the water surface on long stalks that are attached to the underground stems. Each cup-like flower has a spiral arrangement of its numerous petals.
The name Aster comes from the Ancient Greek word, meaning “star”, referring to the shape of the flower head. Many species and a variety of hybrids and varieties are popular as garden plants because of their attractive and colorful flowers.
Wood sorrel (a type of oxalis) is an edible wild plant that has been consumed by humans around the world for millennia.
The plants are annual or perennial. The majority of species have three leaflets; in these species, the leaves are superficially similar to those of some clovers.
