Plant Portraits 5. Lotus Here and There

  (Note images in this series were generated with the assistance of modern AI tools. No actual human individuals are portrayed here. See the first installment of the series for further explanation)

 

 From India to China, the lotus plant (Nelumbo nucifera) is considered sacred, or at least miraculous, because of its ability to rise from the mud, year after year, producing leaves and spectacular blossoms. In addition, its edible seeds and rhizomes are highly valuable sources of nutrition. Lotus occurs also in North America, with similar usage and respect by the indigenous people. Only the flower color is different. I presented some of this information in a previous post .

A group of Balinese dancers taking a break to admire lotus blossoms.

The lotus flower was associated with a number of Hindu deities. This newly created representation of the mythical birth of Goddess Padmavati from a lotus flower combines elements common to Indian art on this subject.

An indigenous Timacu family paddles through a pond filled with the Amerian lotus, Nelumbo lutea in Florida. From southern Ontario, Canada, to Florida, west to Oklahoma, and as far south as Honduras, the indigenous peoples made similar use of lotus as did Asian populations. 

 

 

Women and children in ancient China are harvesting the edible seeds of lotus in the Fall. The bitter-tasting embryos are removed, but saved for medicinal usage. In the winter, the more arduous task of digging up the edible rhizomes from the mud will be undertaken by men.

 

 

 

A chef in ancient China is slicing lotus rhizome for an upcoming meal.

 

 

NOT LOTUS! These are waterlilies of the genus Nymphaea. (Family Nymphaceae). They are not related at all to the lotus, which is genus Nelumbo (Nelumbaceae). The Nymphaeaceae is an ancient lineage branching off near the base of the angiosperm tree, while the Nelumbaceae is actually more closely related to sycamore trees in the Eudicots. I bring this up here to illustrate the very important concept of convergent evolution; plants from unrelated ancestors that have adapted to a similar habitat and lifestyle resulting in a superficial resemblance.