Nelumbo nucifera Mixed Varieties Seeds - Sacred Lotus - Water Lily Aquatic Ethnobotanical

Nelumbo nucifera Mixed Varieties Seeds

Lotus Flower

Nelumbo nucifera, also known as Indian lotus, sacred lotus, bean of India, or simply lotus, is one of two species of aquatic plant in the family Nelumbonaceae. This plant is an aquatic perennial. Under favourable circumstances its seeds may remain viable for many years, with the oldest recorded lotus germination being from that of seeds 1,300 years old recovered from a dry lakebed in northeastern China. The roots of lotus are planted in the soil of the pond or river bottom, while the leaves float on top of the water surface or are held well above it. The flowers are usually found on thick stems rising several centimeters above the leaves. The plant normally grows up to a height of about 150 cm and a horizontal spread of up to 3 meters, but some unverified reports place the height as high as over 5 meters. The leaves may be as large as 60 cm in diameter, while the showy flowers can be up to 20 cm in diameter. An individual lotus can live for over a thousand years and has the rare ability to revive into activity after stasis. Nelumbo nucifera contain the alkaloids nuciferine and aporphine. The flowers, seeds, young leaves, and "roots" (rhizomes) are all edible. Nelumbo nucifera is the species of lotus sacred to both Hindus and Buddhists.