This is a picture taken by my friend in another city. I thought this is a good picture of the lovely flower to share here. It happens to be the Indian National Flower and has great significance in Hindu Mythology.
http://www.india4world.com/government-india/National-Flower-india.shtml
http://www.meadev.nic.in/info/national/national.htm
http://www.cuisinecuisine.com/Lotus.htm
That is not an Indian Lotus, that is a waterlily flower for sure. But it sure is beautiful. Our waterlilys arent that big.
Isn't the lotus also a type of water lily?
Nymphaeceae (Water-Lily family)
Latin name: Nymphaea nouchali var. caerulea
Common names: Blue Lotus, Blue water lily, Lady Lily of the Nile, Egyptian Lotus, Blue Water Lily, Sacred Narcotic Lily
Closest picture I can find in the Plant Database:
http://plantsdatabase.com/showpicture/16280/
web link:
http://www.touregypt.net/featurestories/lotus.htm
This message was edited Jun 23, 2004 1:21 AM
Sacred Lotus (Nelumbo nucifera) possesses great significance in Eastern religion. Apart from its majestic beauty, the Lotus is held sacred because of the mystical effects it can produce. Nelumbo nucifera was often smoked or made into a tea with the idea that it would create a feeling of joy that permeated the mind and body. The flower was immortalized in Homer's The Odyssey, in which Ulysses and his crew come ashore on the Island of the Lotus-Eaters.
Nelumbo nucifera. Hindu lotus, Egyptian lotus, and speciosa
24 deep pink petals with creamy yellow bases delicately pale over the life of the 9-12in. fragrant flower. Leaves measure 20-36in. with the plant growing 3-5ft. above the surface of the water.
The one you posted Dinu may be the water lily (common name Blue Lotus) from the Nympaeceae family. It does have a name that causes confusion.
Hindu Lotus
http://caliban.mpiz-koeln.mpg.de/~stueber/mavica/all/2500/02289.jpg
Victoria Adventure has beautiful pictures: http://www.victoria-adventure.org/lotus/lotus_main.html
This message was edited Jun 23, 2004 1:55 AM
Lilypon
Do you cultivate yourself the sacred lotus ,Nelumbo nucifera?
Its imposible for me to have this plant as their are no supliers here in Chile.I am trying to import some seeds from Tropilab inc. but things are quite dificullt with all the sanitary certificates.
Do you think I have any chance to rise them from seed ,as the zone I live in is not tropical and the temperature in winter
can be freezing.
Victoria Adventure does supply seeds of some water lilies. I would suggest contacting them. I'm not sure how easy it would be to raise them from seed...I've only purchased tropical water lily tubers. I grew a couple of very tiny ones (tubers) out of dormancy in my aquarium before putting them outside for the summer so I think it would be possible but would take effort. I had to keep the *tiny* (read 1/4" ripoff) tubers in the water at a height that gave them as much light as possible. They are a bit tricky to overwinter but I did manage it for one year. Forgot them outside after my parent's house fire (froze solid) and haven't ordered more (from a different supplier).
This message was edited Jun 23, 2004 10:46 AM
Seed Sharing Bank:
http://www.victoria-adventure.org/waterlilies/seed_bank.html
Sorry Azulillo with all the confusion I didn't read your question very carefully. :( The only lotus I have grown is a miniature. In our zones the other larger size ones would be difficult to move in and out of the house....they need a very large tub and that filled with soaking wet mud and 6-12 inches of water (well you get the idea).
Seed sharing bank for the Lotus:
http://www.victoria-adventure.org/lotus/lotus_seeds.html
Thanks for your reply Lilipon, it was for great help the hiperlink from victoria - adventure ,I got all the steps on how to grow the sacred lotus .
Do you have an answer for the confussion that exists world wide as to name Nenufar as Lotus.
