| Nymphaea lotus | |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Division: | Magnoliophyta |
| Class: | Magnoliopsida |
| Order: | Nymphaeales |
| Family: | Nymphaeaceae |
| Genus: | Nymphaea |
| Species: | N. lotus |
| Binomial name | |
| Nymphaea lotus L. |
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Nymphaea lotus, the Tiger Lotus, White lotus or Egyptian White Water-lily, is a flowering plant of the family Nymphaeaceae
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Description
It grows in various parts of East Africa and Southeast Asia.
This species of water lily has lily pads which float on the water, and blossoms which rise above the water.
It is a perennial, grows to 45 cm in height, and prefers clear, warm, still and slightly acidic waters. The color of the flower is white and sometimes tinged with pink.
Nymphaea lotus is often used as an aquarium plant. Sometimes it is grown for its flowers, while other aquarists prefer to trim the lily pads, and just have the underwater foliage.
The white lotus in Ancient Egypt
The ancient Egyptians cultivated the white lotus in ponds and marshes. This flower often appears in ancient Egyptian decorations. They believed that the lotus flower gave them strength and power; remains of the flower have been found in the burial tomb of Ramesses II.
The number 1,000 in ancient Egyptian numerals is represented by the symbol of the white lotus.
The ancient Egyptians also extracted perfume from this flower. They also used the white lotus in funerary garlands, temple offerings and female adornment.
The white lotus might have been one of the plants eaten by the Lotophagi of Homer's Odyssey.
See also
- Nymphaea caerulea, the Egyptian blue lotus or sacred lotus
- Nymphaea nouchali, the star lotus or red and blue water-lily
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Nymphaea lotus |
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