Nelumbo nucifera, known by a number of names including
Indian lotus,
sacred lotus,
bean of India, or simply
lotus, is a plant in the
Nelumbonaceae family. Botanically,
Nelumbo nucifera (Gaertn.) may also be referred to by its
former names,
Nelumbium speciosum (Wild.) or
Nymphaea nelumbo. This plant is an aquatic perennial. Under favorable circumstances its seeds may remain viable for many years, with the oldest recorded lotus germination being from that of seeds 1300 years old recovered from a dry lakebed in northeastern
China.
[1]A common misconception is referring to the lotus as a water-lily (Nymphaea), an entirely different plant as can be seen from the centre of the flower, which clearly lacks the structure that goes on to form the distinctive circular seed pod in the Nelumbo nucifera.[citation needed] It should also be noted that water-lilies come in various colors, whereas the lotus has flowers only in hues of pink, or white.[citation needed]
Native to Greater India[citation needed] and commonly cultivated in water gardens, the lotus is the national flower of India and Vietnam.
The roots of Nelumbo nucifera are planted in the soil of the pond or river bottom, while the leaves float on top of the water surface. The flowers are usually found on thick stems rising several centimeters above the water. The plant normally grows up to a height of about 150&_160;cm and a horizontal spread of up to 3&_160;meters, but some unverified reports place the height as high as over 5&_160;meters. The leaves may be as large as 60&_160;cm in diameter, while the showy flowers can be up to 20&_160;cm in diameter.
