Hortus Botanicus Leiden, Netherlands

Common name: Heilige of Indische lotus, Sacred lotus

Family: Nelumbonaceae (Lotus-lily)

Distribution: Asia

Life form: Aquatic

Comments: The sacred lotus is not closely related to the waterlily, although the flowers are a bit similar, and they are both water plants. This species originates in Asia, but was introduced in Egypt over 2500 years ago. The fragrant flowers stand amidst the long-stemmed peltate leaves. The fruit is a capsule, of which the seeds are used in Traditional Chinese Medicine.