From Wikipedia: Nelumbo nucifera, known by a number of names including Indian Lotus, Sacred Lotus, Bean of India, or simply Lotus, is a plant in the monotypicfamily Nelumbonaceae. This plant is an aquatic perennial. Under favorable circumstances its seeds may remain viable for many years, with the oldest recorded lotus germination being from that of seeds 1,300 years old recovered from a dry lakebed in northeasternChina.[1]
A common misconception is referring to the lotus as a waterlily (Nymphaea), an entirely different plant as can be seen from the center of the flower, which clearly lacks the structure that goes on to form the distinctive circular seed pod in the Nelumbo nucifera.
Native to Tropical Asian nations and Queensland, Australia,[2][3] it is commonly cultivated in water gardens. It is also the national flower of India and Vietnam.
I loved the little centers - they looked like watering cans! This was a most beautiful plant!
