Nelumbo nucifera

The sacred lotus, Nelumbo nucifera, 蓮花 (Liánhuā), is a species of tropical, rhizome-forming water plant with leaves and flowers superficially similar to the unrelated waterlilies. The lotus leaf is readily distinguished from the leaves of waterlilies in that, in the former, the leaf is covered in a waxy coating of fine, water-resistant hairs, and usually held above the water, while those of the latter are shiny, glossy and float at the water's surface. The sacred lotus is indigenous to freshwater systems of Tropical Asia and Queensland, Australia, though, the plant has been introduced into water systems throughout the world, and can survive as far north as Manchuria, provided the plant receives hot weather during the summer, and is protected from freezing during the winter.

China is one of the leading cultivators of lotus, having derived three main groups of cultivars for the production of rhizomes, seeds and of flowers. Rhizome cultivars produce large, very tall leaves, and superior quality rhizomes, like those seen in Asian markets: these cultivars produce few, inferior quality flowers, if they produce any at all. Seed cultivars produce large seedpods with numerous seeds, and produce large, tall leaves smaller and shorter than those of rhizome lotus. Seed lotus cultivars have thin, root-like rhizomes that are unmarketable as vegetables. Flower cultivars are the famed pond ornamentals, and have, predictably, large, showy flowers. Some varieties have doubled petals.

The lotus seed is a famed edible medicinal, and can be made into a sweet paste similar to mung bean or adzuki bean paste. Lotus seed astringes excessive urination, diarrhea and seminal emissions. It also calms the shen, and promotes appetite.

Lotus leaves are typically dried, and then used to fold up foods like rice or meat, adding or enhancing the flavor. Medicinally, lotus leaf tissane is used to resolve summer heat.

The lotus rhizome clears summer heat, nourishes dryness, tonifies the lungs, harmonizes the spleen and stomach, and is an excellent source of Vitamins B and C.