Water lilies are water plants that often have blossoms. About 40 species occur in the family, including lotuses and the common water lily. Water lilies grow in temperate and tropical regions in fresh, still water, such as ponds and lakes. They have cup-shaped flowers and large, round leaves which float of the surface of the water. The leaves, also called lily pads, serve as rafts for frogs, insects, and other water creatures and provide these animals with shelter. Water lily flowers have many petals. They may be white, yellow pink, or blue.