Living Beings
    Source-identified Nelumbo nucifera; Documentary organism photograph; source identification retained. Framed for display
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    Nelumbo nucifera, also known as Indian lotus in bud stage (Image 7 of 7).jpg · Resized and converted to WebP for display. Documentary organism photograph; source identification retained. Subhrajyoti07 · CC BY-SA 4.0

    Field guide · species

    Sacred Lotus

    Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn., 1788

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    The authority credits the formal scientific description of the name. A year records publication of that description.

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    ViridiplantaeMagnoliopsidaProtealesNelumbonaceae

    The sacred lotus is a perennial aquatic flowering plant rooted in muddy freshwater. Broad round leaves, solitary flowers and spreading rhizomes make it a distinctive water-garden plant.

    Public research profile · final editorial review pending.

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    Tree of lifeScientific lineage
    1. LifeLife
    2. DomainEukaryota
    3. KingdomViridiplantae
    4. PhylumStreptophyta
    5. ClassMagnoliopsida
    6. OrderProteales
    7. FamilyNelumbonaceae
    8. GenusNelumbo
    9. SpeciesNelumbo nucifera
    Advanced classification

    Complete source lineage, including intermediate ranks. The standard view uses Life and the eight principal ranks.

    1. cellular organisms cellular root
    2. Eukaryota domain
    3. Viridiplantae kingdom
    4. Streptophyta phylum
    5. Streptophytina subphylum
    6. Embryophyta clade
    7. Tracheophyta clade
    8. Euphyllophyta clade
    9. Spermatophyta clade
    10. Magnoliopsida class
    11. Mesangiospermae clade
    12. Proteales order
    13. Nelumbonaceae family
    14. Nelumbo genus
    15. Nelumbo nucifera species
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    Structure and identification

    Rounded green to bluish-green leaves are carried on stalks. The familiar flowers can be pink and are borne singly.

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    Habitat and range

    Freshwater ponds and other still-water settings provide waterlogged soil in which the rhizomes grow. Strong light supports its photosynthetic foliage.

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    Nutrition and metabolism

    Like other green flowering plants, lotus obtains energy through photosynthesis rather than by absorbing food from mud. Roots supply water and minerals.

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    Reproduction and life cycle

    The plant can reproduce from seeds and spread vegetatively through rhizomes. A planted patch therefore need not consist of many independent seedlings.

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    Geographic distribution

    Native to Asia and northeastern Australia and cultivated widely beyond that region.

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    Ecological role

    Emergent foliage adds structure to shallow freshwater habitat. Its cultural importance and cultivated distribution should not be mistaken for evidence that it is native everywhere it grows.

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    Distinctive adaptations

    Underground rhizomes provide a persistent storage and growth organ beneath the seasonal leaves and flowers.

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    Evidence

    Sources

    Connected life

    No reviewed ecological connections in the collection yet.

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