The most revered flower in the East is the lotus. No other plant has been endowed with so many sacred traits. He has been worshiped since the creation of the world. The lotus flower is a symbol of the unity of male and female principles in China. In India, the birth of the universe is associated with him, according to Buddhist beliefs, it was from him that everything was created. A blossoming bud symbolizes the development of a person’s potential spiritual abilities. In Egypt, it was believed that on the lotus, as on a throne, sat the higher gods, who patronized the Egyptians.
Among all the plants whose habitats are water bodies, lotus is the most spectacular and beautiful (photos of lotus flowers confirm this). More than a hundred of its species can be found in almost any climatic zone.
The structure of this
perennial plant is characteristic of all species of flora, the habitat of which are any fresh water bodies. The lotus, whose flower and leaves are above the water, has a very long stem with rhizomes extending deep into the soil. Typically, the plant can be seen in the coastal zones of ponds and lakes. The bud is framed by large leaves, the top layer of which performs a protective function. Thanks to this coating, resembling a thin wax film, the pores of the plant are not clogged, and it can breathe freely. All dust accumulates on the surface of the leaves and is washed off by drops of moisture, without harming the plant.
On the surface of the
water surface a single plant instance can occupy a fairly large territory. Lotus is a flower that, together with leaves in diameter, can take up to 5 meters.
For comfortable growth, the plant needs a temperature in the range from +30 to +35 degrees. Lotus is a flower with an amazing variety of colors, ranging from white and pinkish colors, ending with bluish colors in different shades. It has a strong aroma that is difficult to confuse with the smell of any other plant.
Seeds similar to a cone ripen in a box divided into several cells. In its structure, it is akin to poppy seeds. The cup is protected from above by a plate with small holes.
In addition to the fact that the plant has many sacred meanings, its practical use should be noted. Lotus (flower, leaves and stems) in India is eaten both raw and after heat treatment. For example, plant seeds resemble well-known popcorn in their taste properties. Like corn grains, they are fried before use.
Rhizome - a kind of tuber, from which the bud and stem are formed, also goes to food. It is rich in starch, and the taste is slightly sweet. Lotus petals are a traditional component of tea blends.
As for the healing properties of the lotus, it normalizes the intestines, relieves attacks of various types of fever. It is used in the treatment of hemorrhoids and dysentery. The plant has hemostatic properties, helps to cope with the effects of
sunstroke.