The question about Lian! !

Lotus, also known as lotus flower, lotus flower, whiplash flower, water hibiscus, water lily, cloud water, hydrangea, water bloom, etc., is its elegant name. The unopened bud is called cymbals, and the blooming flower is called whiplash grass. It belongs to Nymphaeaceae and is a perennial aquatic perennial herb. Its underground stem is called lotus root, which is edible and flowering. It is one of the top ten famous flowers in China.

Edit the introduction of this paragraph.

Growing in water for many years. Herbs, with transverse rhizomes, are the lotus roots that we eat every day. The leaves are round, above the water, with long petioles and thorns, and are shield-shaped. The flower at the top of the pedicel is solitary, with a diameter of10 ~ 20 cm; Sepals 5, caducous; Petals are mostly red, pink or white; Most of them are stamens; Carpels are many, free and embedded in sponge receptacle. Nuts are ovoid or ovoid, commonly known as lotus seeds, and are 1.5 ~ 2.5 cm long. It is widely cultivated in the northern and southern provinces of China. Lotus is full of treasures. Lotus root, leaf, petiole, lotus whisker and rosette can all be used as medicine to clear away heat and stop bleeding. Lotus plumule (the germ of seeds) has the effects of clearing away heart fire, strengthening heart and lowering blood pressure; Lotus seeds (nuts) have the effects of strengthening the spleen, stopping diarrhea, nourishing the heart and benefiting the kidney. Lotus root can be used as a vegetable or to extract starch (lotus root powder). Lotus is one of the top ten famous flowers in China. Lotus originally refers to its fruit, commonly known as lotus; After the flower, it is usually called lotus. The fat part of its underground stem is called lotus root. It is widely planted in the north and south of China, especially in Wuhan and Hangzhou.

Lotus is one of the earliest species and genera of angiosperms. According to the study of fossils by paleobotanists, lotus was distributed in many waters in the northern hemisphere10.35 billion years ago. It grew on the earth much earlier than the appearance of human ancestors (2 million years ago). Lotus is an ancient plant before the Ice Age, which ranks with Metasequoia glyptostroboides, Ginkgo biloba, Liriodendron chinense of China and Sequoia sempervirens. , is the representative of the residual plants that survived the ice age.

According to different cultivation purposes, it can be divided into lotus root, lotus seed and Hualien. Lotus is called lotus root, which mainly produces lotus root, and this kind of variety has few flowers; Purple lotus, which mainly produces lotus seeds, has dense flowers, but its ornamental value is not as good as that of Hualien. Hualien, which is mainly ornamental, is mostly bubble-shaped or petal-shaped, and often cannot bear fruit.

Lianxi enjoys relatively stable still water and avoids running water with great fluctuation and wind and waves. In general, the water depth should not exceed1.5m. The optimum temperature of stems and leaves in the growing season is 25 ~ 30℃. It needs plenty of sunshine, so it is not suitable for long-term indoor cultivation. Clay loam rich in organic matter is suitable for soil quality. Lotus seeds have a very long life span, and thousands of years old lotus seeds can sprout new plants. Lotus is often propagated by ramets or by sowing. It should be done after the warm spring. The main diseases of lotus are rot and leaf spot, and the pests are aphids and scarabs.

It is a traditional method of gardening in China to build lotus in the pond and build a bridge pavilion according to the water to form a lotus viewing scenic spot, which is widely used in scenic spots all over the country. It is also suitable for decorating garden water surface, purifying water body or making potted plants. Lotus root and lotus seed are nutritious and suitable for raw and cooked food. Lotus root can be processed into lotus root powder, candied fruit and so on. Lotus seeds have a calming effect and are often used as soup or candied fruit, which is a good tonic for China people. Lotus petals and tender leaves can be used as food. All parts of the lotus can be used as medicine.

The mystery of waterproof and self-cleaning of lotus leaves;

Numerous micron-sized waxy papillae structures are attached to the surface of lotus leaves. When observing these papillae with electron microscope, we can see that many nanoparticles with similar structures are attached to the surface of each micron-sized papillae, which scientists call the micro-nano dual structure of lotus leaf. It is these tiny double structures that make the contact area between the lotus leaf surface and water droplets or dust very limited, so there is a phenomenon that water droplets roll on the leaf surface and take away dust. Water will not stay on the surface of lotus leaves.

Scientific explanation of breaking the fast knot

The inner wall of the plant vessel will be particularly thickened at a certain position, forming various textures, some are annular, some are trapezoidal and some are reticulate. The thickened part of the lotus root catheter wall is continuous spiral, which is called spiral catheter. When the lotus root breaks, the spiral part of the inner wall of the catheter is separated and becomes a spiral filament with a diameter of only 3 ~ 5 microns. These filaments are much like stretched springs and will not break within the elastic limit. Generally, it can be stretched to about 10 cm.

Edit the history of this lotus.

The scientific name of lotus is lotus, which belongs to the genus Nelumbo of Nymphaeaceae.

Lotus root It is one of the earliest species of angiosperms. According to the fossils studied by paleobotanists, lotus plants were distributed in many waters in the northern hemisphere10.35 billion years ago. At that time, in the late period of the rapid decline of the giant reptile dinosaur, its growth time on the earth was much earlier than the appearance of human ancestors (2 million years ago). According to Paleobotany (1965) by A.H. Christophevich of the former Soviet Union, lotus fossils have been found in Cretaceous strata in the Arctic of North America and amur river Basin of Asia (i.e. Heilongjiang), as well as Oligocene and Miocene strata in Europe and East Asia (Sakhalin Island) and Japan. At that time, the temperature on the earth was warmer than it is now. There were about 10~ 12 species of lotus plants distributed in five continents. With the advent of the post-glacial period, the global temperature dropped, making many plants extinct, while others were forced to drift away, completely breaking the original geographical distribution. Because of this disaster, two varieties of lotus survived, and their distribution range narrowed. Chinese lotus (Nelumbo nucifera) is distributed in Asia and northern Oceania, and N.lutea drifts to North America. Paleobotanists also pointed out that the lotus fossils from Pleistocene to Holocene (2 million years ago) excavated in Hokkaido and Kyoto are similar to modern China lotus; The lotus leaf fossils unearthed in Qaidam Basin, China, 6.5438+million years ago are similar to modern China lotus. In 1970s, China Institute of Petroleum Exploration and Development Planning, Ministry of Petrochemical Industry and Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology, Chinese Academy of Sciences recorded in the book "Early Tertiary Sporopollen in Coastal Areas of Bohai Sea" that two kinds of lotus pollen fossils were found in Panshan, Liaoning, Beidagang, Tianjin, Kenli, Guangrao, Shandong and Cangzhou, Hebei. Fossils of the genus Nelumbo were also found in the strata of Changchang Basin in Qiongshan, Hainan Island, China, in the Tertiary tropical phytogeographical region. At present, the original wild lotus is still distributed in lakes and swamps in Fuyuan, Hulin, Tongjiang and Shangzhi counties of Heilongjiang Province. The above shows that lotus is an ancient plant before the Ice Age, which belongs to the representative of relict plant, such as Paeonia suffruticosa, Ginkgo biloba, Liriodendron chinense in China, Sequoia sempervirens and so on. , not swallowed by the glaciers of the ice age and survived.

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Lotus-Innocent. Mud comes out without dye, clear without demon, indicating loyalty and purity.

Another way of saying it: the flower language of lotus is faith.

It can be more specific.

Garden star anemone: Hope anemone means wind in Greek. Anemone is panicum miliaceum, about ten to twenty centimeters high. During the flowering period, lovely flowers are swaying in the wind, as if expecting something, so its flower language is-expectation.

Bai Lianhua, a symbol of regret and nostalgia.

Saussurea involucrata Amaryllidaceae saussurea involucrata Language: Pure Heart

It is a bulbous plant with white bell-shaped flowers. The most striking feature is the green spots on the edge of the petals, which are clear in style, just like the flower name of Snowdrop.

Saussurea involucrata, the birthday flower on October 10th; Flower language; This is the flower chosen for Saint Francis Paul Gill, a nobleman who gave up his title to become a missionary. Therefore, Xue Lian's flower language is a defect.

Edit this passage about Buddhism and Lotus.

Tianzhu [ancient India] has four kinds of long lotus, which are green, yellow, red and white. Lotus in Buddhism refers to white lotus, which is called Fantuo Lihua. Buddhism uses lotus as a metaphor for Buddhism, so there is a wonderful lotus sutra.

First, the origin of Buddhism worship lotus

When people walked into the temple, they looked up and saw a statue of Sakyamuni, wearing a shoulder-length gown and making a statement, sitting on the lotus platform. According to Buddhist scriptures, this is a gesture that Buddha Sakyamuni preached to believers after becoming a Buddha. Amitabha, known as the head of the "Three Sages of the West", is also sitting on the lotus platform, with his hands on his feet and a lotus platform in his palm, which seems to guide all beings to the pure land of the Western Buddhist country. Guanyin, who is famous for her kindness and compassion, is dressed in white, sitting on the Bai Lianhua, holding a pure bottle in one hand and clinging to a Bai Lianhua in the other, as if to show Guanyin's pure bodhisattva heart, and fully guide the believers to leave the world and reach the pure land of Buddhism where lotus flowers are in full bloom.

When people read Buddhist scriptures, they often see that the Buddhist scriptures refer to the Buddhist country as the lotus boundary, the temple as the lotus room, the monk's cassock as the lotus dress, the monk's handprint as the lotus fight, and the "rosary" used by the monk is also made of lotus seeds. Buddhist scriptures say that it is better to use lotus seeds as rosary beads than locust beads. If you pinch it again, you will be blessed a thousand times.

To sum up, lotus has formed an indissoluble bond with Buddhism and has become a symbol and sacred flower of Buddhism.

Why does Buddhism worship lotus so much? In short, there are two reasons:

First, it is related to the characteristics of lotus.

Lotus is a perennial aquatic plant flower, which has neither the elegance of peony nor the aloofness of chrysanthemum. However, its characteristics of "emerging from mud without dyeing" and blooming in front of cool Xia Jiaoyang have won the supreme worship of Buddhism.

Buddhism believes that "six dusts" are called "six dusts" because the world is full of "six dusts". Due to the pollution and dryness of the "six dusts", the world is full of desire and competition, and it is difficult for people to be calm and clean. This situation is incompatible with the pure land of Buddhism, which is "away from dirt". If you want to enter Buddhism, you must stay away from the world, escape into a clean and empty door, concentrate on practicing Buddhism, eliminate pollution and dry up. The special attribute of "Lotus comes out of the mud without being stained" is consistent with the desire of Buddhist believers in the world not to be polluted by the secular world and to keep clean, so that they can smoothly enter the pure land of Buddhism.

Secondly, it was influenced by the custom of worshipping lotus in ancient India.

As early as before the birth of Indian Buddhism, the scorching sun was like fire every summer. In this hot summer, it is the season when lotus flowers are in full bloom. On a summer night or in the early morning, walking in ponds and lakes where lotus flowers are in full bloom, enjoying the lotus flowers, the green water is hidden, and the fragrance of pink and lavender is pleasing to the eye. Xu Lai is a cool breeze, and the fragrance of lotus flowers emanates from evergreen trees with the wind, which makes people feel cool, as if they had been washed. The lotus pond has become a summer resort.

In the classical literature of ancient India, lotus is often compared to a beautiful girl. For example, the famous epic Ramayana said, "Siddhartha has a woman who looks beautiful, but she is like a lotus root covered with mud, and her shining beauty has never been revealed." In addition, in classical literature, the mother of Buddha Sakyamuni is described as having lotus-like eyes.

In Indian Buddhist scriptures, the birth of Sakyamuni is also associated with the lotus flower. According to Buddhist scriptures, before the birth of Sakyamuni, there were eight auspicious signs in the palace. Hundreds of birds get together, and the flowers of the four seasons bloom together. Strangely enough, a Bai Lianhua as big as a wheel suddenly grew in the big pond in the palace, and Bai Lianhua was born when Sakyamuni was born. At the beginning of Sakyamuni's birth, thousands of golden lights flashed in the root of his tongue, and each golden light turned into a white lotus in Chiba.

The Buddhist sutra "Hundred Fates Sutra" says that Sakyamuni is the lotus prince, and there is another touching story:

Once upon a time, there was a country on the upper reaches of the Ganges River. The king's name is Polonaise, also known as the Lotus King. The country is well governed and the people live and work in peace and contentment. One year, there was an epidemic and many people sought medical treatment. Seeing this, the king was merciful and concentrated his courtiers on running around to treat the people. The doctor said that only the flesh and blood of red fish in the northeast river of Beijing can cure this epidemic, but there is no such fish in the river at present. After listening to this, the prince jumped into the river, turned it into a red fish and devoted himself to treating the people. People have come to cut the flesh and blood of red fish to treat diseases. Strangely, the red fish was "cut and resurrected", but it could not be cut, and it lasted for twelve years until all the people in China were cured. According to Buddhist scriptures, this lotus prince is the later Buddha Sakyamuni.

In the Miscellaneous Treasure Classic, there is also a story of Mrs. Lotus: as early as in the human world, there lived a spiritual fairy named Tiboyan at the foot of the snow-capped mountain. He often pees on stones. One day, a doe came here and licked it a few times. She soon became pregnant and gave birth to a daughter named Deer Girl. Later, Tiboyan learned that the deer girl was his own, so he took it and raised it. When the deer girl grows up, there are lotus flowers on the road, so she is also called the lotus girl. King Utiyan passed by hunting and saw a seven-fold lotus flower on the ground. He asked around about the deer girl and took her back to the palace to be a princess. Deer girl got pregnant soon after she arrived at the palace, and gave birth to 500 sons at a time, all of whom were upright and handsome. When she grew up, she became 500 Hercules and became the protector of the country. The king was overjoyed and named Mrs. Deer as the second lady, who was also called Mrs. Lotus.

In Indian Buddhist scriptures, the classification of lotus is also related to Buddhism, which is very different from today's scientific classification. The meaning of lotus in Buddhism is extensive, including different genera of water lilies and so on.

According to the color of lotus, there are five colors in Buddhist scriptures: white, blue, red, purple and yellow, which are called "Five Tianhua". White and blue are the most popular.

Bai Lianhua, transliterated in Sanskrit as Fantoli, is the largest flower with hundreds of petals, and is also called "White Leaf Flower" in the exam. This kind of peanut grows in a pool in A Xin, a Buddhist country, which is rare in the world, so it is also called "a rare flower", and Buddha Sakyamuni called it "a good flower on earth".

Utpala, transliterated in Sanskrit as Youboluo, is named after its green color. The leaves are long and narrow, slightly rounded near the bottom, gradually pointed upward, blue and white, and look like Buddha's eyes, so they are not called "lotus eyes" in Buddhist scriptures, that is, the eyes of Guanyin Bodhisattva.

These five kinds of lotus flowers are seated by five empty Tibetan bodhisattvas. The Buddhist scriptures say:

Oriental wisdom is hidden in the void, sitting in Yudu, riding a silver cow;

The south can hide in the void, sit on the red lotus and ride the golden elephant;

In the west, I care about hiding in the void, sitting in the Bai Lianhua and riding a glazed horse;

In the north, empty and clean, sitting on purple lotus flowers and riding lions;

The center is empty, sitting on the golden lotus and taking the crystal turtle;

And lotus petals. According to Buddhist scriptures, there are three kinds of flowers: benevolence, smallpox and bodhisattva. There are only a dozen lotus petals of China people, hundreds of lotus petals of Tianhua people and thousands of lotus petals of Bodhisattva, which are the most respected thousand lotus petals in Buddhism and the symbol of lotus in Buddhism.

Second, the beauty of lotus-"four virtues" and "ten virtues"

With the spread of Buddhism and the establishment and development of Pure Land Sect, the forms and contents of lotus worship are increasingly colorful. Buddhism beautifies the natural attributes of lotus by analogy with Buddhist teachings, precepts and precepts, and gradually forms a perfect worship of lotus, and summarizes the virtues of lotus into "four virtues" and "ten virtues".

The Buddhist sutra Nirvana Sutra says that Buddha has four virtues, namely, constancy, happiness, self-sufficiency and purity. The so-called Changde means that the Buddha's nature is inseparable, and there is a fixed virtue of "not moving for three generations, and not changing all laws". The so-called virtue means that the Buddha is willing to stay away from the suffering of life and death in the world and to die in the pure land of nirvana. The so-called virtue means that although the Buddha is in the world, he has long forgotten the "ecstasy" of ordinary people and gained the "true self" of "eight freedoms". The so-called pure virtue means that the Buddha is far away from the dust and dirt of the world, just like a clean big round mirror without fiber.

Buddha has four virtues, and Buddhist scriptures are also summarized as "four meanings", corresponding to "four virtues" According to "Hua Yan Jing", "Dahua Lian" has four meanings in Liang She's theory:

Just like the lotus, it does not touch mud, is more real than the dharma world, and does not pollute the world.

Er Ru Lotus, self-development, just like self-enlightenment compared with truth, all beings are self-development.

Three, such as lotus, bee picking, truth is all saints.

Four virtues are like lotus, and there are four virtues: one fragrance, two cleanness, three softness and four loveliness. For example, the four virtues, constancy, happiness, self-sufficiency and purity. "

The Sanzang Dharma Book also gives a more detailed summary of the advantages of Lotus over Bodhisattva.

Ten tips of lotus analogy to bodhisattva:

1. Stay away from pollution. Bodhisattva practices, has wisdom, can view all realms in all Buddhism, and has no greed for love. Although he is in the stream of life and death, he is not infected by the mistake of life and death, that is, lotus leaves the water and is not infected by sludge. (Five turbidity, namely, robbery turbidity, sentient beings turbidity, trouble turbidity, seeing turbidity and life turbidity)

2. Don't be evil. Bodhisattva's practice only seeks to eliminate all evil, give birth to all good, guard purity in his mouth, and take no evil * * *. It is like a lotus flower, though it drops slightly, it does not stop.

3. Full of abstinence. Bodhisattva practices, puts all the commandments into it, and insists on not committing crimes, so that the commandments can destroy the evil of the body and mouth, and the incense can remove the gas of feces. Therefore, as the saying goes, the fragrance is fragrant, and it is widely spread. It is a metaphor for the spread of lotus flowers, and the fragrance is widely spread, and it is heard far and near.

4. The body is clean. Because of the precepts, the bodhisattva's body and mind are clean, but she can not be polluted. For example, Lotus Watson is naturally clean and pollution-free, even though she is in muddy water.

5. You look happy. Xi, he looks happy. Yi, joy also, bodhisattva heart often Zen, then face no frown, the phase is complete, see it all. For example, when the lotus is in full bloom, it makes all people feel happy and happy.

6. Soft but not astringent. Soft is smooth, not astringent is not stagnant. It means that the bodhisattva's charity trip is not hindered by the closed door method, and it is full of plastic inside and outside. Therefore, the body is often clean, soft and rotating, not rough. Metaphor lotus, the body is soft and moist.

7. Everyone who sees it is lucky. Bodhisattva's practice achievements are wonderful, and those who see them are lucky. For example, lotus flowers and fragrant flowers are wonderful. Those who see them and those who dream are lucky.

8. There is enough seasoning. Bodhisattva's successful practice is full of wisdom and dignity, indicating that the lotus is in full bloom and the Chinese fruit is full.

9. Mature and clean. Bodhisattva prunes the circle, and the wonderful fruit matures, but Huiguang found that it can make all beings have six clean roots, which is similar to the maturity of lotus. Look at its color with your eyes, smell its fragrance with your nose, and your roots will be clean. (Six roots, namely eye root, ear root, nose root, body root and Italian root. )

10. Life has been thinking. When the Bodhisattva was born, immortals and others were protected by Yue Xian, so that they could practice good deeds and prove the bodhi fruit. For example, when the lotus was born, although there were no flowers, Mr. Wang had already thought of the lotus. (Sanskrit Bodhi, Huayan Road)

Although the content of the above metaphor is not targeted and comparable, it accurately captures the delicate and clean characteristics of lotus and the spirit of Buddha, so that lotus has been sublimated.

Perennial aquatic herbs. There is a horizontal rhizome, which is the lotus root that we eat every day. The leaves are round, above the water, with long petioles and thorns, and are shield-shaped. The flower at the top of the pedicel is solitary, with a diameter of10 ~ 20 cm; Sepals 5, caducous; Petals are mostly red, pink or white; Stamens are numerous; Carpels are numerous, free and embedded in sponge-like receptacle points. Nuts are ovoid or ovoid, commonly known as lotus seeds, and are 1.5 ~ 2.5 cm long. It is widely cultivated in the northern and southern provinces of China. Lotus is full of treasures. Lotus root, leaf, petiole, lotus whisker and rosette can all be used as medicine to clear away heat and stop bleeding. Lotus plumule (the germ of seeds) has the effects of clearing away heart fire, strengthening heart and lowering blood pressure; Lotus seeds (nuts) have the effects of strengthening the spleen, stopping diarrhea, nourishing the heart and benefiting the kidney. Lotus root can be used as a vegetable or to extract starch (lotus root powder). Lotus is one of the top ten famous flowers in China.

Edit this allusion

According to legend, Lotus is the incarnation of the beautiful maid Yuji around the Queen Mother. At the beginning, Yu Ji saw a couple of people, men plowing and women weaving, who were very envious, so she moved her heart and escaped from the Tiangong with the daughter of the river god and came to the West Lake in Hangzhou. The beautiful scenery of the West Lake made Yuji linger and play in the lake until dawn. When the Queen Mother knew this, she used the Lotus Throne to drive Yusi into the lake and told her to "drive into the mire and never go south again". Since then, a beautiful maid has been lost in the Heavenly Palace, and a beautiful flower has been added to the world.

Lotus is a famous traditional flower in China. The flowers and leaves are delicate and fragrant, which hides people's hearts. There is a kind of temperament that is not afraid of the hot sun and does not touch the body under the mud and sand. Therefore, in people's minds, lotus is the embodiment of truth, goodness and beauty, a sign of good fortune and prosperity, a sacred and clean name in Buddhism, and a seed of friendship.

In the classic literary masterpiece A Dream of Red Mansions, it is said that Qingwen became a lotus fairy after her death. Jia Baoyu said to Qingwen in the obituary "Daughter of Lotus": "If you talk about quality, it is not worth mentioning; If it is sex, no ice and snow means clean; If it is a god, neither the stars nor the sun can describe its essence; If it is like this, then flowers and months are not enough to describe its color. " Although later redology experts thought that this was not the author's praise of Daiyu's purity in the name of chanting Qingwen, lotus flowers were always associated with the purity of a daughter.

Supplement 1: Because "lotus" and "pity" are homonyms, there are many poems about lotus in ancient poetry to express love. For example, "Xizhou Qu" by Yuefu in the Southern Dynasties: "Lotus is picked in autumn in the Southern Tang Dynasty, and the lotus is over the head; Bow your head to get lotus seeds, which are as green as water. " "Lotus seed" means "Reiko Kobayakawa" and "green" means "clear". There are both real and imaginary here, which means pun. The rhetorical device of homophonic pun is used to express a woman's deep yearning for the man she loves and the purity of love. Thirty-five songs in Jin's "Forty-two Midnight Songs": "The fog reveals the lotus, but the lotus is unclear." The dew in the fog hides the true face of the lotus, but the lotus leaf is not very clear. This is also a way of homophonic pun, writing about a woman who vaguely feels that the man loves her.

Supplement 2: Lotus and Buddhism

According to research, the hometown of lotus is in tropical areas such as India, and Indians also regard it as the national flower. Because India is the birthplace of Buddhism, lotus is inextricably linked with Buddhism in India. Whether painting or shaping a Buddha statue, the Buddha seat must be a lotus seat. Why does the Buddha sit on the lotus? According to the Buddhist scriptures, Buddhism is mainly solemn and wonderful, while lotus flowers are soft and clean, big and fragrant, so "Lotus Table, Yan Jingxiang Miao can sit."

There is also a wonderful story of "Mrs. Lotus" in Buddhist scriptures. A deer gave birth to a beautiful woman, and the fairy raised her. Wherever she goes, the lotus will grow. This is the origin of the word "step by step lotus", which is now used to describe the glory of experience.

Classic Poetry: On (Song) Zhou Dunyi

The flowers of land and water plants are very fragrant. Tao Jinyuan clearly loves chrysanthemums. Since Li Tang came, peonies have been loved all over the world. Love lotus alone, dirt-free, clear but not demon. Straight outside, not crawling, fragrant and clear. It is slim and elegant, so you can look at it from a distance without looking ridiculous. Want to call chrysanthemum, the hermit of flowers; Peony, blooming with wealth; Lotus, the gentleman of flowers. Hey! The love between chrysanthemums and flowers is rarely heard after Tao. Who gave the lotus love? Peony love is suitable for many people.

(According to the original record, Zhang Boxing's woodcut Complete Works of Mr. Zhou Lian (Volume 8) was sealed by Qing Yi.

"There is no stain in the mud, and it is clear and innocent." I'm talking about the lotus. Lotus, one of the top ten famous flowers in China, is called a gentleman among flowers. Since ancient times, a large area of wild lotus has won people's love for its magnificent, simple and generous natural beauty. So that 2500 years ago, people cultivated wild lotus artificially in order to appreciate its fragrance without leaving home. Until today, we can still see it in many parks or large courtyards.

Lotus, a dicotyledonous plant, belongs to the genus Nelumbo of Nymphaeaceae, including Chinese lotus and American lotus. Chinese lotus is distributed in Asia and Oceania, and most of them are tall, oval and green leaves. There are single petals, compound petals, double petals, heavy platform and thousand petals in the cultivated varieties, and the flowers range from red to white. American lotus is distributed in North America, with short plants, nearly round leaves, dark green, single petals and yellow flowers, and it is still in a semi-wild state. According to the study of fossils by paleobotanists, as early as 65.438+0.35 billion years ago, lotus plants were distributed in many waters in the northern hemisphere. In China, Hemudu cultural site discovered in 1973 contains lotus pollen fossils, which is determined to be 7000 years ago. This shows that at least 7000 years ago, lotus was distributed in China and even used as food. Although some data today show that lotus originated in India, according to historical data, China is the origin of lotus. Lotus has been cultivated in China for a long time and spread widely. West to the northern foot of Tianshan Mountain, east to Taiwan Province Island, north to Heilongjiang, and south to Sanya, Hainan. It can be said that China is the world cultivation center of lotus.

Lotus is one of the oldest dicotyledonous plants, and also has some characteristics of monocotyledonous plants. The embryo of lotus is wrapped in scales, similar to monocotyledonous plants. From the flower structure, the lotus has 3 or 4 layers of perianth, outer sepals, inner petals, many stamens, free pistils and single boat-shaped pollen grains. Lotus stems have obvious segmentation phenomenon, and the underground stems are covered with fibrous roots. These are the characteristics of monocots. The lotus bud is a mixed bud, and the lotus bud seen by the naked eye is the position of the terminal bud and axillary buds of the lotus root. Roots are divided into seed roots and adventitious roots. The main root formed by seed radicle is underdeveloped, and the adventitious root plays a functional role. As for the stem of lotus, it is called lotus root, which is actually the underground rhizome of lotus and an organ for storing nutrients and reproducing. Lotus is a solitary bisexual flower, which consists of calyx, corolla, stamen group, pistil group, receptacle and pedicel. Variety and rich colors.

The fruit of lotus, commonly known as "lotus seed", is rich in nutrition and deeply loved by people.

Lotus is an aquatic plant and likes relatively stable and calm shallow water. Lakes, swamps and ponds are all its suitable habitats. The water demand of lotus depends on the variety. The relative water level of large plant-shaped varieties such as Gulian and Chiba is deep, but it cannot exceed 1.7 meters. Small and medium-sized plant-shaped varieties are only suitable for water depth of 20 ~ 60 cm. Meanwhile, lotus is very sensitive to water loss. If you don't irrigate for three hours in summer, the lotus leaves planted in the jar will wither. If the water is stopped for one day, the lotus leaves will be burnt and the buds will wither. Lotus is also very fond of light, and it needs a full light environment during its growing period. Lotus is extremely intolerant of shade, so it will show strong phototaxis when it grows in semi-shade.

It is said that the lotus is "out of the mud but not stained", which is a compliment to the lotus personality. In fact, the underground stem of lotus grows in the mud, so how can it not be infected by toxic substances? Because the extremely fine epidermis tissue and tannin-containing lower epidermis of lotus root have a certain ability to block or absorb toxic substances, most toxic substances attach to or penetrate into the epidermis, which is invisible to the naked eye. So remember to peel the lotus root and don't eat toxic substances in your stomach.