Purple spiny water lilies in full bloom
GANGNEUNG, Aug. 28 (Korea Bizwire) — An endangered aquatic plant has flourished against the odds this summer, producing the largest bloom on record in the wetlands of Gangneung, despite one of the harshest heat waves and droughts in years.
The prickly water lily, or Gasiyeon — designated a Level-2 endangered species by South Korea’s Environment Ministry — began flowering in early July across the Gyeongpo wetland reserve. Far from withering under weeks of tropical nights and daytime temperatures topping 35 degrees Celsius, the lilies have multiplied, covering the wetlands in a vivid display of purple blossoms.
Vibrant spiny water lilies bursting into bloom.
On July 15, the reserve counted more than 300 blooms. By July 25, the number had more than doubled to 670, and by this week it had surpassed 800 — a sharp increase from last year’s peak of about 450. Experts attribute the surge to sustained heat and abundant sunlight, which appear to have accelerated the flowering process.
The spectacle has drawn curious residents and visitors, despite the sweltering conditions. “The leaves are shriveled from the drought and heat, but the flowers are blooming more brilliantly than ever,” said Kim, 64, who came to see the blossoms.
A bed of spiny water lilies
Once native to Gyeongpo Lake, the water lily disappeared after portions of the lake were converted to farmland. It reemerged in 2010 when restoration efforts revived dormant seeds buried in the soil, and has since become a symbol of the lake’s ecological revival.
This year’s blossoms are not only more numerous but also larger and more vividly colored, according to local naturalists. “It has been a difficult summer, but the lilies are blooming more strongly than ever,” said one environmental guide at the wetland. “People are braving the heat just to see them.”
A grasshopper perched atop a spiny water lily
The bloom underscores the resilience of an endangered species thriving in extreme climate conditions — even as its survival remains tethered to fragile wetland ecosystems under increasing environmental stress.
Image credit: Yonhap / photonews@koreabizwire.com
