East indian lotus (Nelumbo nucifera, Fruct. sem. pl. 1:73, t. 19. fig. 2. 1788)

Family: Nelumbonaceae

Author: Gaertn.

Bibliography: Fruct. sem. pl. 1:73, t. 19. fig. 2. 1788

Year: 1788

Status: accepted

Rank: species

Genus: Nelumbo

Vegetable: True

Observations: Ukraine to N. Iran, Russian Far East to Trop. Asia and N. & NE. Australia

Description

The East Indian Lotus, scientifically known as Nelumbo nucifera, is a remarkable aquatic plant revered for its beauty, cultural significance, and versatility. First described by Gaertner in his 1788 work “Fruct. sem. pl.,” this species has become a symbol of purity and enlightenment across various cultures and religions.

Native to a broad geographical range extending from Ukraine to Northern Iran, and from the Russian Far East to Tropical Asia and Northern & Northeastern Australia, Nelumbo nucifera thrives in diverse climatic conditions. This extensive distribution is a testament to its adaptability and ecological importance.

Belonging to the family Nelumbonaceae, the East Indian Lotus is distinct for its large, round leaves that can either float on the water’s surface or rise above it. The plant produces exquisitely beautiful flowers in varying shades of pink and white, which are often seen blooming in slow-moving rivers, ponds, and marshes. Each flower comprises multiple layers of delicate petals surrounding a central pod, which eventually matures into a unique, spongy structure containing seeds.

In addition to its natural splendor, Nelumbo nucifera is celebrated for its spiritual symbolism, especially in Hinduism, Buddhism, and various Eastern philosophies, where it represents purity, beauty, and resilience. The lotus grows in muddy waters but rises above the surface to bloom with remarkable cleanliness and grace, metaphorically emerging unsullied from murky surroundings. This phenomenon has inspired countless myths, artworks, and meditative practices.

Moreover, the East Indian Lotus has significant utilitarian value. Its seeds, young leaves, stems, and roots are edible and are consumed as delicacies in different culinary traditions, particularly in Asian cuisine. The seeds, often known as lotus nuts, are especially prized for their nutritional content and are used in various dishes, confections, and traditional medicine, believed to have numerous health benefits.

In conclusion, the East Indian Lotus, Nelumbo nucifera, is more than just an extraordinary aquatic plant. It carries profound cultural, spiritual, and practical significance, weaving its presence through history, art, and daily life across its widespread natural habitat.

Common Names

Eng: east indian lotus, oriental lotus, sacred lotus, lotus, lotusroot
Ita: fiore di loto
Fra: fève d’egypte, lotus indien, lotus sacré
Hun: indiai lótusz
Deu: indische lotosblume, indischer lotus
Swe: indisk lotus
Spa: loto sagrado, rosa del nilo
Por: lotus-do-egito
En: East Indian lotus, Oriental lotus, Lotus, Lotusroot, Sacred lotus, Caspian Nelumbium, Indian Lotus, Sacred Egyptian Bean, कमल, पलेस्वां, Chinese Arrowroot, Padma
Ar: نيلم جوزي
As: পদুম
Az: Fındıqcalı şanagüllə
Bn: পদ্ম
Bs: Lotos
Bg: Индийски лотос
My: ပဒုမ္မာကြာ
Ca: Lotus de l’Índia
Zh: Lian, 荷, 荷花, 莲, 蓮
Hr: Lotos
Cs: Lotos ořechonosný
Dv: ނެލަންބޯ ނުސިފޭރާ
Nl: Heilige lotus
Eo: Hinda lotuso
Fi: Intianlootus
Fr: Lotus indien, Lotus sacré, Fève d’Egypte, Lotus d’Orient, Lotus
Gl: Loto sagrado
De: Indische Lotosblume, Indischer Lotus, Indische Lotusblume
El: Ινδικός λωτός
Gu: કમળ
He: לוטוס
Hi: कमल
Hu: Indiai lótusz
Is: Vatnalilja
Id: Seroja
It: Fiore di loto
Jv: Seroja
Kn: ಕಮಲ
Ks: پَمپوش
Kk: Үндістан лотосы
Km: ឈូក
Rw: Lotusi y’ubuhinde
Ko: Yeonkkot, 연꽃
Lv: Riekstu lotoss
Lt: Riešutinis lotosas
Lb: Indesche Lotus
Mk: Индиски лотос
Ml: താമര
Mr: कमळ
Mn: Цацаргин
Ne: कमल
No: Lotus, Lotusrot
Or: ପଦ୍ମ ଫୁଲ
Pa: ਕਮਲ
Fa: لاله مردابی
Pl: Lotos orzechodajny
Pt: Lotus-do-Egito
Pt-br: Flor-de-lotus, Lótus, Lótus-índico, Lótus-sagrado
Ru: Лотос орехоносный
Sa: कमलम्
Si: නෙළුම්
Sk: Lotos indický
Es: Loto sagrado, Rosa del Nilo, Indijski lotos
Su: Saroja
Sv: Indisk lotus
Zh-tw: 蓮
Tg: Гули садра
Ta: தாமரை
Te: తామర పువ్వు
Th: บัวหลวง
Tr: Hint lotusu
Uk: Індійський лотос
Ur: کنول
Vi: Sen hồng
Za: Va’ngaeux

Synonyms

• Nelumbium speciosum var. caspicum (DC.)
• Nelumbium indicum (Poir.)
• Nelumbium album (Bercht. & J.Presl)
• Nelumbo nelumbo ((L.) H.Karst.)
• Nelumbium asiaticum (Rich.)
• Nelumbium caspicum (Fisch. ex DC.)
• Nelumbium marginatum (Steud.)
• Nelumbium speciosum var. tamara (DC.)
• Nelumbium javanicum (Poir.)
• Nelumbium caspium (Eichw.)
• Nymphaea nelumbo (L.)
• Nelumbium nelumbo ((L.) Druce)
• Nelumbo speciosa var. tamara (DC.)
• Nelumbo speciosa var. caspica (DC.)
• Nelumbo speciosa (Willd.)
• Tamara alba (Roxb. ex Steud.)
• Tamara hemisphaerica (Buch.-Ham. ex Pritz.)
• Tamara rubra (Roxb. ex Steud.)
• Nelumbo speciosa var. alba (F.M.Bailey)
• Nelumbium discolor (Steud.)
• Nelumbium tamara ((DC.) Sweet)
• Nelumbium speciosum (Willd.)
• Nelumbium rheedii (C.Presl)
• Nelumbium speciosum f. caspicum ((DC.) Regel)
• Nelumbo caspica ((DC.) Fisch. ex Hoffm.)
• Nelumbium venosum (C.Presl)
• Nelumbium turbinatum (Blanco)
• Nelumbium transversum (C.Presl)
• Nelumbium speciosum roseum-plenum (Jekyll & E.T.Cook)
• Nelumbo komarovii (Grossh.)
• Nelumbo indica (Pers.)
• Nelumbium speciosum album-plenum (Jekyll & E.T.Cook)

Distribution

• Amur (native)
• Assam (native)
• Bangladesh (native)
• Cambodia (native)
• China North-Central (native)
• China South-Central (native)
• China Southeast (native)
• East Himalaya (native)
• Hainan (native)
• India (native)
• Iran (native)
• Japan (native)
• Jawa (native)
• Khabarovsk (native)
• Korea (native)
• Laos (native)
• Lesser Sunda Is. (native)
• Malaya (native)
• Manchuria (native)
• Myanmar (native)
• Nepal (native)
• New Guinea (native)
• North Caucasus (native)
• Northern Territory (native)
• Pakistan (native)
• Philippines (native)
• Primorye (native)
• Queensland (native)
• South European Russi (native)
• Sri Lanka (native)
• Thailand (native)
• Transcaucasus (native)
• Ukraine (native)
• Vietnam (native)
• West Himalaya (native)
• Western Australia (native)
• Alabama (introduced)
• Arkansas (introduced)
• Benin (introduced)
• Cook Is. (introduced)
• Cuba (introduced)
• Florida (introduced)
• Georgia (introduced)
• Italy (introduced)
• Kentucky (introduced)
• Leeward Is. (introduced)
• Louisiana (introduced)
• Masachusettes (introduced)
• Mississippi (introduced)
• Missouri (introduced)
• New Jersey (introduced)
• North Carolina (introduced)
• Puerto Rico (introduced)
• Romania (introduced)
• South Carolina (introduced)
• Tennessee (introduced)
• Texas (introduced)
• Trinidad-Tobago (introduced)
• West Virginia (introduced)
• Windward Is. (introduced)

Additional Images

Flower

Taken Jan 7, 2021 by Tihonova Anna (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 3, 2018 by chris labiouse (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jan 5, 2020 by Schoenn McDrury (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 15, 2019 by gloria L. Peralvo (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jan 10, 2018 by Beverly Patrick (cc-by-sa)

Leaf

Taken Mar 24, 2022 by Santanu Das (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 14, 2022 by Nilanjan Nath (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 12, 2019 by Autumn Rain (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 15, 2019 by gloria L. Peralvo (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 28, 2021 by kozo (cc-by-sa)

Fruit

Taken Nov 11, 2019 by Brian Hammond (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 5, 2019 by Mohammad Hoseini (cc-by-sa)

Taken Nov 25, 2017 by vini (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 14, 2020 by André Hyvrier (cc-by-sa)

Taken Dec 10, 2021 by de Juana German (cc-by-sa)

Other

Taken Aug 13, 2020 by Diego Alex (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 28, 2022 by Tristan Jaton-Maria (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 9, 2019 by Blue Bottle (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 26, 2022 by Tristan Jaton-Maria (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 3, 2015 by Tela Botanica − SP Wong (cc-by-sa)

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Habit

Taken Jul 27, 2017 by Tela Botanica − Liliane ROUBAUDI (cc-by-sa)

Taken Apr 29, 2022 by Dr. Chaturbhuj mundotiya (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 27, 2017 by Tela Botanica − Liliane ROUBAUDI (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 9, 2020 by Анна (cc-by-sa)

Taken Nov 25, 2017 by vini (cc-by-sa)

Bark

Taken Sep 17, 2019 by Jessi Jessi (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 1, 2021 by Sébastien TRASBOT (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 2, 2022 by Alessia Furiosi (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jan 1, 1900 by EOL − Gerrit Davidse (cc-by-nc-sa)

Taken Aug 4, 2021 by Robin N (cc-by-sa)

Sources

• WFO (No URL)
• IPNI (No URL)
• GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/2882449)
• POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:605422-1)
• PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn.)

Specifications

Growth habit>: Forb/herb

Growth

Light: 8

Atmospheric humidity: 9

Soil nutriments: 7