THE CHINESE WATER GARDEN - Growing Chinese Vegetables in Your Own Backyard - page 174

Leaves of the Egyptian lotus rest on the water surface, and its flowers bloom close
to the water on relatively short stems. Blossoms have the classic water lily shape with
narrow pink-tinged white petals.
The blue cousin of this species, Nymphaea caerulea, was also called “lotus” and ap-
pears in ancient hieroglyphics. The Chinese lotus is the most desirable from a culinary
standpoint. All three species grow wild in Egypt, so that accounts for some of the con-
fusion.
Since ancient times the lotus has been revered throughout the Middle East, India,
and Asia. It is a symbol of purity because it rises undefiled from the mud; as such it
has been incorporated into the religions of many countries. Readers may be familiar
with the “lotus position,” the sitting position in which Buddhists meditate, with the legs
crossed and each foot resting on the opposing thigh. Statues of Buddha frequently show
him in this position.
Because the lotus displays all three stages of growth — bud, flower, and seedpod
— simultaneously, it symbolizes the past, present, and future. This is sometimes illus-
trated in Japanese flower arrangements, with the past represented by a leaf that is past
its prime or even decayed or worm-eaten, the present by a perfect leaf and flower, the
future by a bud.
Lotus flowers are worth growing for their beauty alone; they're a wonderful orna-
ment in the garden and beautiful in a vase. If you grow this showy flower and delicious
vegetable, the problem will be not how to use it but how to grow enough for all the uses
to which you'll wish to put it.
Appearance
The lotus is an exceptionally beautiful plant, among the loveliest of all water garden
plants. It bears leaves and blooms on long stems, holding them well above the water.
Buds, blossoms, and seedpods are striking in shape and beautiful. Buds take three days
to open fully in a fascinating progression; they follow the sun during the day and close
at night. Seedpod formation begins after the third day. Flowers are large, to 12 inches
across in warm climates, with very wide petals. At one stage of the blossoming these
look like an unfurling peony or rose. The leaves can reach 20 inches across. They are
an elegant silvery blue-green and rise well above the water; the fragrant flowers grow
even higher.
Lotus are perennials and hardy to Zone 4. With proper care, they'll give you years
of pleasure — if you can keep from eating them all up.
The lotus rhizome looks something like a reddish brown banana joined in segments
like a string of sausages (a mixed-up description, but apt). The flesh is light orange.