Nelumbo Nucifera-the divine lotus:
Lotus ,the national flower of India has acquired lot of cultural significance in not just hindu civilizations but also among the rest of the civilizations that existed across the world. The egyptian associated lotus with Sun since it blossomed during the day and closes during the night. In hinduism too lotus is persistently associated with lord Vishnu ,Lakshmi , Bramha and Saraswati, signifying purity ,virtues and beauty also refering lotus to be their seats'Kamalasana' or 'Padmasana'.
Buddhism too is inspired by the same factand depicts Buddha seated on Lotus.
coming to its scientific classification:
Division
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Order
Proteales
Family
Nelumbonaceae
Genus
Nelumbo
Parts of lotus:The roots of lotus are planted in the soil of a pond or river, the leaves float on top of the water surface. The flowers are usually found on thick stems rising several centimeters above the water. The plant normally grows up to a height of about 150 cm and a horizontal spread of up to 3 meters, but some unverified reports place the height as high as over 5 meters. The leaves may be as large as 60 cm in diameter, while the showy flowers can be up to 20 cm in diameter.
History of lotus:
The lotus is an Asian water lily known for the delicate beauty of its water flowers. It possesses an amazing ability to flourish in a variety of environments ranging from clear ponds to muddy marshes. It is also known for its exceptionally hearty seed pods, which often plant themselves far from its source, bringing the beauty of the lotus blossoms everywhere.
Most seeds remain quiescent during a cold or dry season and germinate only with the coming of favorable growing conditions. Seeds that require special treatment to germinate, even when presented with adequate water and oxygen and favorable temperatures, are said to exhibit dormancy. Seeds with thick or waxy coats, which inhibit the entry of water and oxygen, may remain in a prolonged quiescent state. Seeds of the Indian lotus can germinate 200 years after they are shed. Most seeds, however, lose the ability to germinate within several years of shedding. Following the return of the rains, primitive peoples witnessed the rise of the undefiled water lily from the bottom of dried-up watercourses and considered the living blooms symbols of immortality and resurrection. The ancient Egyptians from the 4th dynasty greatly valued the sacred lotus, N. totus, in religious ceremonies and funerals.
Lotuses are 5 species of water lilies, three in the genus Nymphaea and two in Nelumbo; both genera are members of the water-lily family, Nymphaeaceae. Lotus is also the name of a genus in the pea family, Leguminosae, which contains such plants as the bird's-foot trefoil, Lotus corniculatus. Nymphaea lotus, the Egyptian white lotus, is believed to be the original sacred lotus of ancient Egypt. It and the Egyptian blue lotus, N. caerulea, were often pictured in ancient Egyptian art.
The white lotus is a shallow-water, night-blooming plant with a creeping rootstock (rhizome) that sends up long-stalked, nearly circular, dark green leathery leaves, which float on the surface. The flowers, up to 25 cm (10 in) across, remain open until midday. The blue lotus is a smaller, less showy day-blooming plant.
Interesting fact:
Available either fresh or canned, the tubers of N. nucifera can be sliced longitudinally and served as refreshing vegetable that tastes somewhat like a sweet potato. They can also be sliced across to reveal the lacy structural pattern, and can be baked and then dipped in confectioner's sugar like candied yams.
The seeds are edible, but need to be peeled and any bitter sprouts removed. During Chinese New Year festivities, sugared lotus seeds are available as sweets. Also, according to one tradition, the wife who finds such a seed inside a dumpling she is eating can be certain of bearing a son in the year to come.
Like fiddlehead ferns, the young leaves of Asian lotus can be collected before they unfurl, and steamed like spinach or watercress. In China, where seeds have been found that date to 7,000 years BP [before the present,] the lotus is associated with longevity, and all parts of it are supposed to have medicinal properties. Freshly cut long lotus stalks are filled with wine by pouring it through a little hole in the centre of the leaf and letting gravity draw it down to extract the lotus' beneficial qualities.
The Lotus ChakrasIn the practice of Kundalini, where the ordinary objective is to stimulate and align one's vital energy, the 7 stages are conceived as the blooming or unfolding of lotuses. The meditation proceeds to the extraordinary objective, which is extinction of the time-connected self (Skt. nirvikalpa samadhi,) or alternately (depending on one's view,) the union of the self with the divine.
Each chakra is associated with one of the 5 elements (earth, water, fire, air, space) plus "mind" or consciousness, and supreme bliss or "enlightenment.")
The process goes through:
Muladhara chakra: the base of the body, associated with the earth, when activated the 4-petalled crimson [orange-red] lotus blooms;
Svadhisthana: near the genital area, associated with water, when activated a 6-petalled vermilion [bluish-red] lotus blooms;
Manipur: in the lower abdomen, associated with fire, a 10-petalled blue-black lotus;
Suddha: near the heart, associated with air, a 12-petalled red lotus;
Visuddha: base of the throat, associated with the sky, a 16-petalled purple lotus;
Ajna: the "third eye" between the brows, associated with consciousness, a 2-petalled white lotus;
The crown lotus: at the top of the head, a 1,000-petalled rainbow lotus like a canopy or a fountain.
GerminationWhen to Germinate - In our part of the world the optimum time is Spring when temperatures are averaging around 25-30°C or at least by the first month of Summer. This is because the seedlings will need the better part of a whole growing season to develop sufficient rhizomes or flower and produce seed ensuring the plants survives into the following seasons. Lotus seeds have an extremely long viable life. Seeds from Chinese tombs over 5000yrs old have been germinated successfully! So there's no rush if you have missed the optimum time of year.
How to Germinate - Seed should be filed or scraped on concrete until you're through the hard, dark exterior skin. This lets the water into the seed. In other words you file 1-2mm off one or both ends of the seeds. Place the seeds in a glass of warm to hot (not boiling) water on a sunny windowsill. Usually the viable seed will sink but often floaters can also germinate so give them a chance. Change the water everyday especially if it goes cloudy. Warm water is best. The first leaves should emerge within a week and rise up out of the glass, it's fun to watch!. At this stage they can be planted out. The seedlings can then be planted 2-3cm deep in a well-fertilized medium (growing medium details below) covered with about 100mm of water.
Ponds and Containers - Lotus is a vigorous grower with a spreading rhizome. When mature the leaves can emerge from about 2.5m of water and the stems can rise 1m out of the water depending on the depth of the water. Because of its vigor lotus does not prosper in a small container, I recommend a minimum container size of about 400-500lts. The container can be a large planter bag or pot submerged into a pond or one that holds water itself like a bathtub or ceramic pot. In the later case the container should be filled with soil or medium to about 200mm from the top allowing for this much water to cover the soil. If you're intending to grow lotus in a farm dam or large earth based pond remember that lotus will grow into a depth of 2.5 meters so if your pond or dam doesn't exceed a depth of 3m anywhere the lotus may occupy the whole area which may disadvantage other life forms in the pond and the aesthetic appeal of the pond, it's nice to be able to see some of the water surface. In our experience a couple of rhizomes planted at one end of a .5ha dam, the depth of which did not exceed 2m, the lotus covered the entire surface of the dam in 3yrs, part of the dam has since been deepened.
Soils and Growing Medium - Lotus will do best in a rich heavy or clayey soil that is fertilized with well-rotted manure. We grow everything organically so cannot advise on artificial fertilizers. However we have used chicken manure based pellet fertilizers wrapped in paper parcels and buried in the soil with good results. The soil should be covered with water and if the manure is fresh, allowed to stand for 2-3 weeks while the manure rots. If plants are introduced to this mix too soon they may also rot so prepare the container beforehand.
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