A true night owl, the Victoria amazonica waterlily waits until after dark to flower and uses all of its allure to attract the scarab beetles it requires for pollination. The flower opens its white petals and releases a scent irresistible to the beetles before closing again, trapping them inside. The following evening, after spending a day with the beetles inside, the flower?s petals turn a purple colour signaling that pollination has taken place. The plant reopens, releasing the beetles to move onto their next flower, and then closes for the second time before sinking underwater where its seeds develop.