Nelumbo nucifera

Species: Nelumbo nucifera 

English Name:  Lotus

Chinese Name: 蓮

Family: Nelumbonaceae

Description:

Petiole 1–2 m, terete, fistulous, glabrous or papillae hard and scattered; leaf blade abaxially blue-green, orbicular, 25–90 cm in diam., papery, glabrous, glaucous, water-repellent, margin entire. Flowers 10–23 cm in diam.; peduncles longer than petioles, glabrous or sparsely spinulate. Tepals caducous, pink or white, oblong-elliptic to obovate, 5–10 × 3–5 cm. Stamens slightly longer than receptacle; filament slender; anther linear, 1–2 mm; connective appendage clavate, to 7 mm, incurved. Receptacle accrescent, turbinate, 5–10 cm in diam. Fruit oblong to ovoid, 1.0–2.0 × 7–15 cm, glabrous; pericarp thick, hardened. Fl. Jun–Aug. 2n = 16.

Photos used under a Creative Commons license

References:

Wu ZY, Raven PH, Hong DY (eds) (2001) Flora of China. Vol. 6 (Caryophyllaceae through Lardizabalaceae.). Science Press, Beijing, and Missouri Bot Garden Press, St. Louis