Lily Pad

Lily pads are disc-shaped leaves that are featured in several of the The Legend of Zelda games. They are found floating on water and are similar to their real-world counterparts known of the same name.

In some games they feature as a game mechanic (generally as a platform to stand on) while in others they are just aesthetic.

Ocarina of Time
In Ocarina of Time, there are lily pads in the Fishing Pond.

Majora's Mask
In Majora's Mask there are large lily pads all over the waters of the Southern Swamp and Woodfall.

When Link is in his normal form, he can climb and stand on one of these for only a few seconds before it collapses under him. After a while off-screen it reappears.

However, since Deku Link weighs less, as long as Link is wearing the Deku Mask he can stand on one without it collapsing. In fact, due to this attribute, Deku Link can use the lily pads to safely navigate the poisonous waters of Termina's swampland.

A similar type of lily pad, under which Bio Deku Babas live, can be found in the Great Bay Temple, or in Secret Grottos. This variety will support all of Link's forms, however it will flip over and toss him off if the Bio Deku Baba is still attached.

The Minish Cap
The lily pads of The Minish Cap can be found in areas where Link must be Minish-sized and there is water, such as streams and puddles in the overworld and the two Minish-sized dungeons: Deepwood Shrine and the Temple of Droplets. Such lily pads can be propelled somewhere, with Link on them, if he uses the Gust Jar to shoot bursts of air in the opposite direction. This is required to navigate these areas. Stretches of water naviagable in this manner frequently have Pestos flying overhead that will attack Link if he draws near.

Skyward Sword
In Skyward Sword lily pads are large enough to support Link, and have pink thorns that branch out underneath.

The two type of lily pads vary in the way that one type has a thicker branch of thorns underneath. Both these types can be found in the Ancient Cistern, and also Faron Woods when it is flooded.

If Link jumps down from a high place onto one of these lily pads, it will flip over. If a lily pad is flipped over with the thorns on top, Link can use the whip to grab the thorns and flip it over again.

Link will get injured if he touches the thorns, so as long as the thorns are on top, he cannot stand on it, and the thorns will also block his path underwater.

Trivia

 * The water lily is the real-world counterpart, and the Giant waterlily is even large and strong enough to hold a person, which is likely the inspiration for the lily pad's ability stay afloat with Link on top of it.