Lotus Flower

Lotuses are five species of water lilies, three in the genus Nymphaea and two in Nelumbo; both genera are members of the water-lily family, Nymphaeaceae. Lotus is also the name of a genus in the pea family, Leguminosae, which contains such plants as the bird's-foot trefoil, Lotus corniculatus. Nymphaea lotus, the Egyptian white lotus, is believed to be the original sacred lotus of ancient Egypt. It and the Egyptian blue lotus, N. caerulea, were often pictured in ancient Egyptian art. The white lotus is a shallow-water, night-blooming plant with a creeping rootstock (rhizome) that sends up long-stalked, nearly circular, dark green leathery leaves, which float on the surface. The flowers, up to 25 cm (10 in) across, remain open until midday. The blue lotus is a smaller, less showy day-blooming plant. The Indian blue lotus, N. stellata, differs from the blue Egyptian species largely in its leaves. Nelumbo contains but two species. The American lotus, N. lutea, is found in the eastern half of the United States into southern Canada. It has thick, spreading rootstock and large bluish green circular leaves, up to 60 cm (2 ft) across, which are usually raised above the surface of the water. The pale-yellow flowers, up to 25 cm (10 in) across, usually open on three successive days. Both the seeds and the rootstock (rhizomes) were eaten by the Indians. The East Indian lotus, N. nucifera, found in southern Asia, was introduced into Egypt about 2,500 years ago but is no longer found in the Nile region. Its flowers are considered sacred by the Buddhists of India, Tibet, and China.