Living BeingsCompare species
Giant Waterlily
Victoria amazonica
African Baobab
Adansonia digitata
How to compare two organisms
Choose two species and trace their closest shared group. Then compare a trait with the same definition on each side. Check the units, life stage and context before interpreting a measurement or range.
Missing data means that the collection lacks a sourced value. Where a characteristic does not apply to a lineage, the comparison labels it separately. Open the two profiles for context and follow their sources before drawing a conclusion.
Evidence from the profiles
Compare their characteristics
| Trait | Giant Waterlily | African Baobab |
|---|---|---|
| Physical traits | Rounded leaf blades float at the surface, supported by a strongly ribbed underside. The raised leaf margin makes a distinctive shallow tray. | Thick, fibrous bark surrounds a broad trunk. Each compound leaf has several leaflets radiating from a central point. |
| Habitat and range | Warm, relatively calm freshwater allows broad floating leaves to spread while their stalks remain connected to the submerged plant. | A terrestrial tree of tropical Africa, it is adapted to seasonally dry conditions and is also planted in gardens and settlements. |
| Diet and nutrition | Sunlit leaves produce organic carbon through photosynthesis. Roots and submerged tissues obtain water and nutrients from the aquatic environment. | Leaves produce sugars through photosynthesis. Water and mineral nutrients are taken up through the roots. |
| Reproduction and life cycle | Flowers open through a female phase and a later male phase, changing from white toward pink. Beetles visit the warm, scented flowers and can transfer pollen between them. | Large, hanging white flowers develop into capsules containing seeds embedded in pale, powdery pulp. New trees can be grown from seed. |
| Geographic distribution | Native to tropical South America, particularly the Amazon basin. The photograph illustrates a cultivated plant in India, not a native Indian population. | Native to Africa and cultivated elsewhere. The accompanying photograph shows a planted specimen in Madagascar; that location should not be confused with the native range of every baobab species. |
| Ecological role | Flowering connects this aquatic plant with insect pollinators. Details from other Victoria species should not automatically be applied to V. amazonica. | Its flowers, fruit and extensive woody structure provide biological resources. The familiar name baobab also applies to other species, which should not be confused with this one. |
| Distinctive adaptations | Large floating blades place the photosynthetic surface in the light, while the ribbed underside supports the leaf. | A substantial trunk and drought-resistant growth form help distinguish this tree from many humid-forest trees. |
Classification
Shared ancestry
Closest shared taxon: Magnoliopsida.