Nelumbo nucifera

Indian lotus (Nelumbo nucifera)

The Indian lotus flower ( Nelumbo nucifera; Synonyms: . Nelumbium speciosum willd, Nymphaea nelumbo ) is a plant of the genus Lotus flower (Nelumbo ) in the family of lotus plants ( Nelumbonaceae ).

Features

The Indian lotus flower is a spur -forming, herbaceous perennial water plant. The stalked leaves are Peltatum. The petioles are 2 m or more in length. The round leaf blade has a diameter of 60 cm or more.

The hermaphrodite flowers are radial symmetry. The many 1-13 cm long bracts are tinted pink, pink or white ( in some varieties also yellow) and fell. The dust bags are 1 to 2 cm long. There are many free carpels present. Pollination is by beetles.

The floral axis tapering to fruit time evenly against the bottom and is often rounded slightly above the pedicel paragraph. The egg-shaped fruit having a size of 10 to 20 x 7 to 13 mm. The nut fruits are ovoid or ellipsoid, measuring 10 to 20 × 7 to 13 mm and are more than 1.5 times as long as wide and sunk into the floral axis.

Occurrence

The Indian lotus flower is in the Far East, Japan, Korea, China, Nepal, Southeast Asia, Northeast Australia, Pakistan and westwards to the Aral Sea and the Caspian Sea. In southeastern North America she was naturalized. It grows in lakes, ponds and swamps.

Use

The tuberous roots are dried and processed into flour or cooked and served with vinegar and soy sauce as a side dish. Young leaves and stems are cooked as a vegetable. The seeds are fresh or candied or roasted and consumed as snacks or cooked as a soup garnish. So far, only in Myanmar and Lotus Silk is made from the plant fibers.

Street vendors

Mobile market

Empty lotus capsule

Consumed fresh tastes best,.

Fresh seeds

Dried seeds

Lotus effect

Lotus flower

Lotus roots - Vietnam