Past its prime, the pollinated waterlily flower will sink
into the water where the "fruit" will ripen and eventually
release hundreds of waterlily seeds. The small oblong orange leaf,
at about the 4 o'clock position in the image, is a recently
germinated waterlily seedling with a single root hanging down.
As it gets bigger and heavier it will sink into the pond mud
where the first root will anchor it in place so it can grow
a full root system and become a mature plant. Next spring
it will start to flower.