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Magnoliopsida
Lotus L.
EOL Text
Hydrophobic surface allows self-cleaning: sacred lotus
Leaves of the sacred lotus are self-cleaning thanks to nanoscale bumps.
Learn more about this functional adaptation.
License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/ |
Rights holder/Author | (c) 2008-2009 The Biomimicry Institute |
Source | http://www.asknature.org/strategy/714e970954253ace485abf1cee376ad8 |
This introduced perennial plant is an emergent aquatic that produces individual leaves and flowers directly from the root system. The blades of the leaves either float on the surface of the water, or they are held up to 6' above the water surface by their petioles (often the latter). These circular peltate blades are ¾2½' across, medium green or blue-green, and hairless. Their margins are smooth, often undulating up and down. Each leaf blade above the water surface is depressed toward the middle where it is joined by the petiole. Many veins radiate from its center in all directions; these veins become forked as they approach the outer margin of the blade. The stout petioles are light green, terete, hairless, and either smooth or somewhat prickly. The interior of each petiole contains hollow chambers that keep the petiole erect and convey oxygen to the root system. Individual flowers are held up to 6' above the water surface by their peduncles (flowering stalks). Each flower is 4-8" across, consisting of about 15 pink tepals, a golden yellow receptacle, and a dense ring of golden yellow stamens (although the anthers are often white). The receptacle, which is located in the center of the flower, is shaped like an upside-down cone. Along its flat upper surface, there are 15-35 short styles that look like small bumps. The blooming period occurs during the summer and can last 2-3 months. The short-lived flowers open up during the morning and begin to lose their petals by the afternoon; they have a pleasant fragrance. Each flower is replaced by a seedpod spanning 3-4" across and ¾" deep; this seed pod becomes dark brown at maturity. Along the upper surface of the seedpod, individual seeds are exposed in small chambers. Eventually, each seedpod bends downward to release its seeds into the water. The root system has thick rhizomes with fibrous roots. Sacred Lotus spreads by its rhizomes or seeds; it often forms sizable colonies.
License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/ |
Rights holder/Author | Copyright © 2002-2014 by Dr. John Hilty |
Source | http://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/wetland/plants/sacred_lotus.htm |
Ponds and lakes; 0-400m.
License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/ |
Rights holder/Author | eFloras.org Copyright © Missouri Botanical Garden |
Source | http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=200007079 |
Nelumbo nucifera is an ornamental species sporadically naturalized from cultivation over the area mapped in the southeastern United States. Although Virginia, Kentucky, and Delaware are within the range, I know of no collections from Virginia or Delaware and of no wild-growing specimens of N . nucifera in Kentucky. The species was listed in a flora of New York (R. S. Mitchell 1986); I have not seen a voucher specimen for the report.
The seeds of Nelumbo nucifera have been shown to remain viable for several hundred years under certain conditions (D. A. Priestley and M. A. Posthumus 1982).
License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/ |
Rights holder/Author | eFloras.org Copyright © Missouri Botanical Garden |
Source | http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=200007079 |
Nelumbo lutea (Water Lotus)
(Most bees collect pollen; flies & beetles feed on pollen; bumblebees & wasps explore the flowers & are non-pollinating; some insects become dead on the flowers and are non-pollinating; the short-tongued bees Lasioglossum nelumbonis, Lasioglossum nymphaearum, & Hylaeus nelumbonis are probably oligoleges of Water Lotus and similar species of wetland plants; observations are from Robertson)
Bees (long-tongued)
Apidae (Apinae): Apis mellifera cp fq; Apidae (Bombini): Bombus fraternus exp np, Bombus griseocallis exp np, Bombus impatiens dead np, Bombus pensylvanica exp np; Anthophoridae (Ceratinini): Ceratina dupla dupla cp
Bees (short-tongued)
Halictidae (Halictinae): Agapostemon sericea cp fq, Augochlorella striata cp fq, Halictus ligatus cp, Halictus parallelus cp fq, Halictus rubicunda cp, Lasioglossum imitatus cp, Lasioglossum nelumbonis cp fq olg, Lasioglossum nymphaearum cp fq olg, Lasioglossum pilosus pilosus cp fq, Lasioglossum versatus fp cp fq; Colletidae (Hylaeninae): Hylaeus affinis cp, Hylaeus nelumbonis cp olg
Wasps
Scoliidae: Scolia bicincta exp np; Sapygidae: Sapyga interrupta exp np
Flies
Syrphidae: Orthonevra nitida fp, Sphaerophoria contiqua fp, Syritta pipiens fp, Syrphus ribesii fp, Toxomerus marginatus fp, Trichopsomyia banksi fp fq; Muscidae: Neomyia cornicina dead np; Ephydridae: Notiphila unicolor fp fq
Beetles
Cerambycidae: Typocerus badia fp; Chrysomelidae: Diabrotica undecimpunctata fp fq; Coccinellidae: Coleomegilla maculata fp, Hippodamia tredecimpunctata fp
License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/ |
Rights holder/Author | Copyright © 2002-2015 by Dr. John Hilty |
Source | http://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/flower_insects//plants/water_lotus.htm |
Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn., 1788
Distribution
Native to tropics in Asia and Oceania.
License | Public Domain |
Rights holder/Author | No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation. |
Source | http://treatment.plazi.org/id/A355624BE6D7950171C414CFEBADDE46 |
Depth range based on 1 specimen in 1 taxon.
Environmental ranges
Depth range (m): 0 - 0
Note: this information has not been validated. Check this *note*. Your feedback is most welcome.
License | http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/ |
Rights holder/Author | Ocean Biogeographic Information System |
Source | http://www.iobis.org/mapper/?taxon_id=752823 |
This species is cultivated for its edible rhizomes and seeds.
License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/ |
Rights holder/Author | eFloras.org Copyright © Missouri Botanical Garden |
Source | http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=2&taxon_id=200007079 |
The flowers are cross-pollinated by honeybees, Halictid bees (Halictus spp., Lasioglossum spp.), and Masked bees (Hylaeus spp.), which collect pollen for their larvae. The following bee species are oligoleges of American Lotus
License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/ |
Rights holder/Author | Copyright © 2002-2014 by Dr. John Hilty |
Source | http://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/wetland/plants/am_lotus.html |
"Notes: Freshwater ponds and Lakes. Cultivated, Also grown as ornamental"