Lotus

The lotus refers to two aquatic plants in the genus Nelumbo: Nelumbo nucifera, the sacred or Indian lotus, and Nelumbo lutea, the American lotus. Distinct from water lilies (Nymphaea), lotuses grow from rhizomes in muddy sediments, with circular leaves and large, showy flowers that rise above the water. Flowers are typically pink or white in N. nucifera; N. lutea has pale yellow blossoms, and both produce a central seed pod.

Native to Asia and parts of North America, lotuses inhabit still or slow-moving freshwater such as ponds, lakes, and wetlands and are widely cultivated in ornamental water gardens worldwide.

They are perennial aquatic plants. They propagate by rhizomes or seeds, require warm temperatures and full sun, and can overwinter as underground rhizomes in frost-free climates; in temperate regions they are grown as annuals or stored indoors.

In culture, the sacred lotus is a prominent symbol of purity and spiritual awakening in Hinduism and Buddhism. Culinary uses include lotus seeds (lian zi) and rhizomes, eaten cooked or raw and used in desserts and savory dishes across Asia. The seeds are valued for nutrition and traditional medicine. The plant’s leaves and flowers have inspired studies of hydrophobicity, known as the lotus effect, with applications in materials science.