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Nelumbo nucifera - Sacred Water Lotus

Family:Nelumbonaceae
Habit:Perennial
Height:1
Width:1
Synonyms:Nelumbium speciosum
Range:Western. Asia from Iran eastwards to China, Japan and Australia.
Nelumbo nucifera (Sacred Water Lotus) is a Perennial which grows to a height of 1m and a width of 1m . It has a hardness rating of 5.
Sacred Water Lotus will flower in January to February. The flowers from this plant are hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and they are pollinated by

Soil Information

Sacred Water Lotus will grow in light (sandy),medium (loamy),hard (clay) soil. It is not necessary for the soil to be well drained.
The soil prefers the following PH / acid levels :
- pH of less than 6, Acidic soils
- pH between 6 and 8, Neutral soils
- pH greater than 8, Basic soils
Sacred Water Lotus prefers soils

Ideal Planting Locations

Sacred Water Lotus should not be planted in shady areas.

Found in large lakes to 1400m in the Himalayas[51].

Planting places suited to this plant described below.

Cultivation Details

Requires a rich loam[1]. Succeeds in water up to 2.5 metres deep[200]. In cooler climates, however, it should be grown in shallower water, though no less than 30 cm deep, which will warm up more quickly and encourage better growth and flowering[200]. The plant is happiest with water temperatures of 23 - 27°c in the growing season[260] and requires a five month growing season[264]. This species is not tremendously hardy when grown outdoors in Britain and it is best, once the leaves have died down in the autumn, to store the roots in a frost-free place, either in a tub of water or in moist sand[264].. Plants are resentful of root disturbance and should be planted into their permanent positions as soon as possible[200]. Once established, they can become invasive when growing in suitable conditions[238]. A very ornamental plant[1], there are many named varieties some of which have been developed for their edible uses[183]. It is said that pink-flowered forms are preferred for their edible seeds whilst the white-flowered forms are preferred for their edible roots[264]. Most forms are not cold-hardy outdoors in Britain but some, especially those from far eastern provenances are much hardier and will possibly succeed outdoors in favoured areas of Britain[200]. The flowers have a sweet fruity perfume[245]. This is the sacred Lotus of India and it is much cultivated as a food plant in the Orient[1, 2].

Edible Uses*

* See disclaimer
Edible Rating: 4/5
Root - cooked as a vegetable[1, 46, 61, 272]. It is also a source of starch or arrowroot[2, 61]. Much used and relished in Chinese cooking, the root has a mild flavour[178] and a crisp texture[206]. It can be cooked with other vegetables, soaked in syrup or pickled in vinegar[264]. The root contains about 1.7% protein, 0.1% fat, 9.7% carbohydrate, 1.1% ash[179]. Young leaves - cooked or raw[46, 61, 117, 183]. Used as a vegetable[272]. The leaves can also be used to wrap small parcels of food before cooking them[264]. Stems - cooked. A taste somewhat like beet[2, 105]. They are usually peeled before use[193]. Seed - raw or cooked[1, 46, 51, 183, 272]. A delicate flavour[2]. The seed can be popped like popcorn, ground into a powder and used in making bread or eaten dry[183]. The bitter tasting embryo is often removed[116, 117]. The seed contains about 15.9% protein, 2.8% fat, 70% carbohydrate, 3.9% ash[179]. The roasted seed is a coffee substitute[183]. Petals can be floated in soups or used as a garnish[183]. The stamens are used to flavour tea[183].

Medicinal Uses*

* See disclaimer
Medicinal Rating: 3/5
The Sacred water lotus has been used in the Orient as a medicinal herb for well over 1,500 years[238]. All parts of the plant are used, they are astringent, cardiotonic, febrifuge, hypotensive, resolvent, stomachic, styptic, tonic and vasodilator[116, 147, 152, 176, 238, 240]. The leaf juice is used in the treatment of diarrhoea and is decocted with liquorice (Glycyrrhiza spp) for the treatment of sunstroke[218]. A decoction of the flowers is used in the treatment of premature ejaculation[218]. The flowers are recommended as a cardiac tonic[240]. A decoction of the floral receptacle is used in the treatment of abdominal cramps, bloody discharges etc[218]. The flower stalk is haemostatic[176]. It is used in treating bleeding gastric ulcers, excessive menstruation, post-partum haemorrhage[238]. The stamens are used in treating urinary frequency, premature ejaculation, haemolysis, epistasis and uterine bleeding[176, 238]. A decoction of the fruit is used in the treatment of agitation, fever, heart complaints etc[218]. The seed contains several medically active constituents, including alkaloids and flavonoids[279]. It is hypotensive, sedative and vasodilator[176, 279]. The seed has been shown to lower cholesterol levels and to relax the smooth muscle of the uterus[279]. It is used in the treatment of poor digestion, enteritis, chronic diarrhoea, spermatorrhoea, leukorrhoea, insomnia, palpitations etc[176, 218, 238, 279]. The plumule and radicle are used to treat thirst in high febrile disease, hypertension, insomnia and restlessness[176, 238]. The root is tonic[218]. The root starch is used in the treatment of diarrhoea, dysentery etc, a paste is applied to ringworm and other skin ailments[218]. It is also taken internally in the treatment of haemorrhages, excessive menstruation and nosebleeds[238]. The roots are harvested in autumn or winter and dried for later use[238]. The root nodes are used in the treatment of nasal bleeding, haemoptysis, haematuria and functional bleeding of the uterus[176]. The plant has a folk history in the treatment of cancer, modern research has isolated certain compounds from the plant that show anticancer activity[218].

Propagation

Seed - file the seed across its centre, being very careful not to damage the flesh of the seed, and soak in warm water, changing the water twice a day until signs of germination are seen, which should be within 3 - 4 weeks at 25°c. Plant in individual pots just covered in water and increase the depth as the plant grows. Division in spring as the plant comes into growth. Be very careful, the plants deeply resent root disturbance[200].

Scented parts of the plants

Flowers : Fresh

Known Hazards

None known

Other Uses

The leaves are used as plates for eating food off[272].

Cultivars

'' - No entries have been made for this species as yet.

References

Flowers of the Himalayas.
Polunin. O. and Stainton. A.
Author: Polunin. O. and Stainton. A.
Rating:
Publisher : A very readable and good pocket guide (if you have a very large pocket!) to many of the wild plants in the Himalayas. Gives many examples of plant uses.
Date of Publication : 1984

The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Huxley. A.
Author: Huxley. A.
Rating:
Publisher : Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
Date of Publication : 1992

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