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The lotus rises untouched and pure from the mud below. With its petals spread wide to reveal a
crown of brilliant yellow stamens, the lotus (Nelumbo nucifera) is a symbol of serenity and
purity throughout Asia. It grows in water ponds that can reach depths of 8 feet, and although it
resembles a water lily, the two are not related. The national flower of India and Vietnam, the
lotus -- sometimes called the sacred lotus -- has multiple medicinal and culinary uses.
Description and Habitat.
The lotus grows in tropical regions of Asia east of Iran, especially in India and Southeast Asia,
and in Australia, and it will grow in sunny conditions in United States Department of Agriculture
hardiness zones 5 to 10. It is an aquatic perennial that thrives in shallow ponds, lagoons and
marshes that sends rootlike rhizomes into the mud while leaves rise above the water on 3- to 6foot petioles. The leaves are notably water-resistant, and when they open, delicate pink petals

surround a brilliant yellow core of stamens and pistils. The plant is hermaphroditic and is
pollinated by insects and beetles.
Cultural Symbolism.
The fact that the lotus rises from the mud to open into a delicate structure virtually untouched by
the substrate from whence it grew has influenced Asian art and religion for thousands of years.
Hindu gods, including Vishnu, Brahma and Shiva, are sometimes depicted seated on lotus
flowers to emphasize their purity. The crown that Buddha wears, suggestive of the internal
organs of a lotus flower, symbolizes the heights of purity and consciousness that he attained. The
stem of a lotus, which bends easily but is difficult to break, characterizes a good relationship in
China.
Culinary Uses.
People throughout Asia have enjoyed lotus roots for centuries, usually sliced, sometimes
marinated and often boiled or fried. The roots have a delicate taste and crunchy texture. The
leaves make a nutritious vegetable when young and can serve as plates or food wrappers when
mature. Plants for a Future notes that the seeds, which contain about 15 percent protein and 70
percent carbohydrate, can be popped like popcorn, ground into flour or roasted and brewed like
coffee. The petals are not particularly tasty, but often serve as a garnish for soups, and the
stamens sometimes serve as flavoring for tea.
Other Facts.
Lotus seeds are extremely hardy and long-lived. In 1995, a University of California biologist
succeeded in germinating a seed found in a dry lakebed in northeast China that was estimated to
be almost 1,300 years old. Besides eating lotus plants, people in Asia have also been using them
medicinally for centuries. Traditionally, the flowers have been brewed into a heart tonic and the
stalk used to treat excessive bleeding. The seeds are used in a tonic for digestive problems and
diarrhea, and the dried roots, when taken internally, are traditionally believed to have an effect on
excessive bleeding.