Nymphaea lotus

Vegetative characteristics Nymphaea lotus is a rhizomatous, perennial, aquatic herb with stoloniferous, ovoid, erect, branched or unbranched rhizomes The stolons are slim. to nearly inodorous, nocturnal, broadly ovate, ==Taxonomy==

It was described by Carl Linnaeus in 1753. It is placed in the subgenus Nymphaea subg. Lotos, ==Distribution==

It grows in various parts of East Africa and Southeast Asia. Nymphaea lotus var. thermalis was believed to be a Tertiary relict variety endemic to the thermal waters of Europe, for example, the Peţa River in Romania. DNA analysis has concluded that Nymphaea lotus var. thermalis lacks distinctiveness from Nymphaea lotus and therefore cannot be classified as a relic population. ==Ecology==

Nymphaea lotus has the exceptional ability to persist through a dry season with rhizomes. It possesses the ability to reduce evaporation by up to 18 percent on most of the days during the summer period. ==Conservation==

Overall, Nymphaea lotus has been categorised as a species of Least Concern (LC). ==Uses==

As an ornamental plant It is cultivated as an ornamental plant where it is cultivated under bright conditions in 22–28°C warm water. As a symbol The Egyptian lotus is the national flower of Egypt. Claire Waight Keller included the flower to represent Malawi in Meghan Markle's wedding veil, which included the distinctive flora of each Commonwealth country. As food The tubers and seeds are used as food. == Chemistry ==

Other compounds include myricitrin, myricetin-3-(6′′-p-coumaroylglucoside), myricetin-3′-O-(6′′-p-coumaroyl)glucoside and two epimeric macrocyclic derivatives, nympholide A and B, myricetin-3-O-rhamnoside and penta-O-galloyl-β-D-glucose. ==References==