Lotus
Indonesian name: Tunjung, Teratai
Latin name: Nelumbium nelumbo
Family: Nymphaeaceae
The Lotus is an important plant in Buddhist and Hindu symbolism. Most parts of the Lotus plant are either edible or used for medicine. In Bali, Lotus and Water Lilies are often seen growing together in hotel ponds. The Balinese use the same name to refer to both, although the two are quite different plants.
Description
This aquatic plant produces long stalks, about 1 meter high, which bear its leaves and flowers. The stalks grow from a rhizome which lies deeply buried in the mud in pools and lakes.
Flowers
Produced at the end of solitary stalks and have between 16 and 19 petals. The newly-opened flower is magenta, but when opened for a time, the tips turn purple, shading to a pale lavender - almost white - at the base. Petals are concave and tear-drop shaped, about 11 cm long and 5 cm wide, pointed at the tip. The pistil is an inverted cone, about 3 cm in diameter and 3.5 cm high, its stigma flat, with circle of dots around the edge. It looks much like a salt shaker. Dozens of stamens radiate, bristle-like, from the base of the pistil. Each is about 3 cm long, white at the bottom and yellow toward the tip. The 20-25 cm blossoms stay open only a short time. Once the petals drop, the large conical ovary is left at the end of the long stalk.
Leaves
Large, round, and borne in the air.
Seeds
Contained in the mature seed pod which is the hardened and enlarged conical ovary. The seed pod is brown, 6 cm high and 7 cm in diameter.
