lotus

An aquatic plant belonging to the Nelumbonaceae family of flowering plants. The lotus has prominent blooms (of pink or white hues) rising 8-12 inches above the water, each with a flattened central seed pod structure and fully circular leaves with centrally-attached stems. These features help distinguish it from the water lily flower (Nymphaea), with which it is often confused.

Nelumbo nucifera (also known as the Sacred or Indian Lotus) will probably be the plant of interest to Danbooru image taggers, being a divine symbol in Hinduism and Buddhism. It conveys the virtues of purity and non-attachment; it is associated with beauty, elegance, and grace.

Examples

Lotus plant

Lotus flowers have rounder petals

Each lotus has a distinctive, cylindrical seed pod at its center

Mature lotus leaves rise above the water's surface and are not notched unless damaged

Lotus bud

Non-examples

Water lily plant

Water lilies tend to have sharper shapes

Water lilies do not have seed pods. The cone shape at the center is formed by stamens

Water lily leaves (called lily pads) always float on the water's surface. Each leaf has a notch

Water lily bud

See also

• Lotus leaf
• Lotus pod
• Lotus root
• Lotus root slice
• Lotus seeds
• Lotus lantern
• Lotus pedestal
• Lotus print
• Lily (flower)
• Flower

External links

• Wikipedia: Nelumbo
• Wikipedia: Nelumbo nucifera
• Wikipedia: Nelumbo lutea

This tag implicates flower (learn more).