This is a beautiful white waterlily, native to India and South-east Asia. The toothed floating leaves vary from being elliptic-oval to almost circular, and are 15-26 cm across. The leaves are papery and have fine hair on them. White flowers are 5-15 cm in diameter, with 12-14 shiny petals, and rise above the water. There are red and pink varieties too. This flowered is reverred in ancient Hindu literature.