"Water Lily" by Paul McGehee. One of the most beautiful and exotic of all flowers. The freshwater aquatic plant can now be found all over the world as it is commonly used as a decorative feature in landscaping, but the broad leaves also perform the useful function of blocking the sunlight from the bottoms of ponds to reduce algae growth. Of the approximately 65 varieties of Water Lilies, most are inedible, but after boiling, peoples of many lands have looked to the plant as a food source, from the Asian continent to the African continent. Water Lilies also have certain medicinal properties as well. In ancient Egypt, Water Lilies were common on the Nile River and the imagery of the starburst blossoms became a cultural symbol, many centuries ago. Often confused with Lotus Blossoms, Water Lilies are of a different genus, displaying several minor differences in the shapes of their petals and leaves. The most notable difference is that the Lily's leaves rest flat on the water's surface, where the Lotus leaves and flowers rise above the water on stems. The Water Lily has historically been of spiritual importance in the lands of Buddhism and Hinduism as a symbol of rebirth, since the flowers completely close at night and reopen the following morning. Water Lilies come in many different colors, especially the dramatic tropical varieties...the one depicted here was drawn from life on the Caribbean island of Nevis. "Water Lily" is faithfully reproduced as an archival-quality print from McGehee's original color pencil and acrylic artwork, in a limited edition of only 2,000 pieces each hand-signed by the artist. Print image size 10 5/8" x 15 1/8".