Interesting Facts About LOTUS

Lotuses are found in white and pink colors in general and they grow in shallow and murky waters. The floating leaves and Lotus flowers have long stems, which contain air spaces to maintain the buoyancy. Here are some interesting facts about these beautiful flowers :-

1. According to Egyptian mythology, the Lotus is related to the sun, as it flowers at the day hours, and closes by night. Lotus is even believed to have given birth to the sun.

2. The Lotus flowers, seeds, young leaves and rhizomes are all edible. Lotus stem is eaten almost in all parts of India, and pickled too.

3. Different parts of the Lotus are also utilized in traditional herbal medicine of Asia.

4. The Lotus fruits are a conical pod with seeds contained in holes in the pod.

5. The Lotus is a sacred flower for Buddhists. The Lotus is one of the eight auspicious signs of Buddhism - an eight petalled lotus used in Buddhist mandalas symbolizes cosmic harmony.

6. The Lotus flower is quoted extensively in Puranic and Vedic literature.

7. The Pink Lotus is the National Flower of India.

8. The Lotus is one of the eight auspicious signs of Buddhism - an eight petalled lotus used in Buddhist mandalas symbolizes cosmic harmony, a thousand petalled Lotus, spiritual illumination.

9. The roots of the Lotus are planted in the soil of the pond or river bottom, while the leaves float on top of the water surface. The Lotus flowers are usually found on thick stems rising several centimeters above the water.

10. When the Lotus flower's petals fall, they are replaced by a flat-topped seed pod divided into compartments, resembling a wasp's hive.