SafePlants

Sacred Lotus (Nelumbo nucifera)

The term "sacred lotus" can refer to two distinct aquatic plants:

• Nelumbo nucifera, also known as Indian lotus, bean of India, or simply lotus. This is the focus of this article.
• Nymphaea caerulea, the "blue lotus."

Considerations for Pets

• The plant grows from rhizomes rooted in mud, with long stems supporting leaves and flowers. Pets might ingest parts of the plant when in/near bodies of water.

Considerations for Children

• The plant grows from rhizomes rooted in mud, with long stems supporting leaves and flowers. Children might ingest parts of the plant when in/near bodies of water.

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

• Scientific Name: Nelumbo nucifera
• Common Names: Indian lotus, sacred lotus, bean of India, lotus, Sacred Water Lotus
• Family: Nelumbonaceae
• Genus: Nelumbo Adans.
• Species: Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn.
• Synonym: Nelumbium nelumbo Druce

Distribution and Habitat

• Native to eastern Asia.
• Found throughout India.
• Grows in shallow water, such as ponds, lake shores, and ocean shores.
• Specifically mentioned as growing in India, Vietnam, and other Southeast Asian countries.

Morphology and Growth Habits

• An aquatic perennial plant.
• Roots are firmly planted in the mud beneath the water surface.
• Has long stems to which the leaves and flowers are attached.
• Characterized by large, showy flowers.
• Lotus plants stay dirt-free.
• Aquatic rhizomatous.

Ecological Role

• The lotus plant thrives in murky waters.

Uses and Cultural Significance

• Considered a basal eudicot with agricultural, medicinal, cultural, and religious importance.
• It was domesticated in Asia about 7,000 years ago.
• Its flowers, seeds, stems, leaves, and roots offer numerous medicinal and calming effects.
• The lotus is the foremost symbol of beauty, prosperity, and fertility in Hinduism.
• In Buddhism, the lotus flower is the symbol of purity, faithfulness, and spiritual awakening.

Quirky Facts

• Heat production by sacred lotus flowers depends on ambient temperature, not light cycle.
• Lotus plants stay dirt-free, an obvious advantage for an aquatic plant living in typically muddy habitats.

Further Information

• RHS (Royal Horticultural Society): Find help & information on Nelumbo nucifera.
• Wikimedia Commons: File:Sacred lotus Nelumbo nucifera.jpg.