NELUMBO LUTEA
NELUMBO LUTEA
Domain: Plantae (plants)
Kingdom: Tracheobionta (vascular plants)
Phylum: Magnoliophyta (angiosperm)
Class: Magnoliopsida (dicotyledon)
Order: Nymphaeales
Family: Nelumbonaceae (Indian lotus)
Genus: Nelumbo (lotus)
Species: lutea (American lotus, wild)
Nelumbo lutea -- Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants
The
American Lotus is a very beautiful, large, yellow flower with many petals,
stamens, and a significant seed pod. The lotus is a full sun perennial
with huge leaves. The petals tend to be 15 or more in count surrounding
the shower head shaped seed pod and can reach six inches in diameter. A
strong stalk connects to the center of the circular leaf which can reach two
feet in diameter. The stalk and arise from rootstocks also known as
rhizomes, which produce tubers. The stalk can survive in varying depths of
water (up to eight feet!) but tends to prefer the shallow water. The
leaves are a bluish green on the top and a pale green with veins on the bottoms.
The flower tends to grow above the large leaves. The seed pod within the flower
has a pistil in each hole and will later
become a seed nut that has developed from the pistil. The growth season of
the lotus usually runs from July to September.
Nelumbo lutea -- Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants
The American Lotus can be found in any quiet pond, stream, or lake growing in the shallow waters close to the shore. The lotus can be found in the eastern United States, some parts of Canada, and some species of Nelumbo have even traveled to Central America and can be found in the West Indies. Certain genus’s can also be found in abundance in Asia. Unfortunately, within the united states, the American Lotus is threatened in Michigan and endangered in New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
The lotus has played a large part of culture all over the world. The American Lotus has provided food for the Native Americans and also in Asia. The lotus is extremely important to Asian cultures and is viewed as a holy flower. The lotus is associated with Buddha; specifically the seed pod. The seed pod symbolizes the birth of Buddha, and can also be known as “the jewel in the heart of the lotus” (Grimshaw).
Almost every part of the lotus can be used as food or a medicine. A
forewarning though: the lotus is thought to be highly toxic and therefore
should be taken seriously if you plan to embark on a new
addition to your dinner. Another warning, the lotus can be considered a
halogen, and could cause as much harm as much as you would like it too.
Starting at the bottom, the roots of the lotus can be used for a poultice for
inflammatory disease. This poultice can be achieved by drying the roots
and then pounding them into a pulp. The seeds can also be dried and along
with the root, made into a tea for inflammatory intestinal and urinary tract
problems. The fresh root is good for soothing reproductive organs.
The seed pod in the center is very often harvested for the seeds, but as well as
for decoration and is rather popular.
Plant Life, Professor Moore the seed pod.
One of the most common mistakes made concerning the lotus is actually deciding whether or not the species you have come upon is the lotus in fact. The water lily very closely resembles the lotus but has a few significant differences. The water lily belongs to the Nymphaeaceae family, which at one time the lotus had belonged to. Nymphaea has a large cut in its leaf while the Nelumbo does not. Another feature is the center of the flower where the stamens and pistil’s are located. The lotus has the shower head seed pod with the pistil’s inside, while the water lily has nothing enclosed and all the stamens and pistils are in plain view. The water lily also has a stronger scent than the lotus. Another common mistake made is between the N.lutea and its sister flower, the Nelumbo nucifera which has pink petals and is more popular in Asia.
Rickett, H.W. The Odyssey Book of American Wildflowers. The Odyseey Press. New York. 1964. USA. Western Publishing Company, Inc. pg. 90.
Grimshaw, John Dr. The Gardener’s Atlas. Quarto Publishing Plc. Great Britain 2001. pg. 160,168-9.
Phillips, Roger and Rix, Mary. The Botanical Garden: Volume II Perennials and Annuals. Firefly Books Ltd. 2002 buffalo New York 2002 pg.383
Moore, D.M. Professor. Plant Life New York Oxford University Press 1991. Equinox Limited 1990. pg28, 228
Check out these great sites for more in depth information on N.lutea
Interesting Facts about the Lotus
Flower Essence Profile Lotus Or Water Lily
Nelumbo lutea -- Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants
Nelumbo lutea Willd. (American Lotus)
Plant Profile for Nelumbo lutea
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