The flowers are very small and inconspicuous. Its leaves may be emersed above the water or floating on it. The plant can be found in muddy, shallow waters such as lake margins, or in water as deep as six feet. T his large plant is very easy to identify. Its flowers are extremely large, typically six inches wide.
Flowers are luminescent yellow with many petals and stamens.
The lotus leaf is on a long, stiff stalk that is connected to the leaf at the very center of the leaf, umbrella-like. American lotus seedpods are sold as ornamental items. Spatterdock occurs in ponds, lakes and sluggish streams. S patterdock has large heart-shaped leaves , usually with wavy margins. Spatterdock leaves are attached to long, stout stems which arise from large, spongy rhizomes.