Bees gather pollen from a purple waterlily (Nymphaea)

purple waterlily

Two bees gather pollen from a purple waterlily (Nymphaea). The family nymphaeaceae is an old and evolutionarily primitive plant family, that has essentially not changed in the past 160 million years. There are 40-50 species of Nymphaea, and since they are popular garden plants there are many hybrids.