The flowering of this plant annually gathers thousands of tourists in different parts of the world. From exotic Thailand, Japan, China to the Astrakhan region. Even special tours and excursions are organized. Huge snow-white or pink flowers of the walnut lotus bloom for only a couple of days, but the sight is incomparable.
Nut-bearing lotus: description
This species is defined as a perennial herbaceous amphibian plant belonging to the Lotus family and the genus of the same name. It has a rhizome, into which thick underwater stems have turned, fixed in the ground. The plant belongs to relic tropical species, and therefore is of great interest not only to botanists. Nut-bearing lotus has two types of leaves: scaly underwater and floating or raised high above the water. They have a round, funnel-shaped shape and long flexible petioles, the diameter reaches 50-70 cm. The bright green leathery leaves are covered with a dense wax coating and therefore are not wetted, and water drops roll off them.
How and when does the lotus bloom?
One of the most striking characteristics that the walnut lotus has (photo above) is its flowers. They are very large (25-30 cm in diameter) and showy. They rise above the surface of the water on a straight pedicel, have an obversely conical wide receptacle surrounded by many petals of a delicate pink hue (in cultivated forms - white), in the very center there are many bright yellow stamens. The flower has a delicate pleasant aroma. In the recesses of the receptacle, fruits are formed - nuts (this determines the name) about 1.5 cm long, they have a dense woody pericarp.
Geography of growth
Modern growing area is very extensive. Nut-bearing lotus prefers warm climates with high humidity. The plant is most common in the temperate and tropical regions of Asia (including India, Vietnam, Indonesia, Iran, Myanmar, Thailand, the Philippines, etc.). In Russia, the lotus can be seen in the lower reaches of the Amur in the Far East, the basins of the Zeya, Tunguska, Ussuri, Bureya rivers, Puryatin Island, the Khanka Plain, the coast of the Azov and Caspian Seas.
How to sprout a nut-bearing lotus?
In European gardens, an exotic guest appeared only at the end of the 18th century. It began to be used to decorate small ponds, outdoor tanks, and, if the climate allowed, in greenhouses. Perhaps the most spectacular and dazzling plant for a pond is the walnut lotus. Growing from seeds is quite possible. It is known for certain that they have an amazing ability to germinate even 150 and 200 years after they were collected.
In order for the nut to germinate faster, its shell should be lightly rubbed with sandpaper or a file, that is, mechanical damage should be applied. Then put the seeds in a jar of water and place it in a sunny spot. The process of germination is amazing, it is extremely interesting to watch it. First, the thick shell of the nut bursts, then small leaves begin to appear one after another, and after about 20-25 days, thin roots begin to appear.
Planting a walnut lotus
Young plants are either planted in pots and placed in a container of water, or immediately into a pond. Remember that fragile leaves should float on the surface. In addition to the seed method of reproduction, division of the rhizome is also possible. Whatever you choose, you need to do it in March-April.
To grow the walnut lotus in open artificial reservoirs, a special soil is prepared, which is a mixture of silt, sand and a small amount of gravel and clay. In greenhouses, the plant grows in pots. The optimal water level for a lotus is 30-40 cm. It should be soft and clean. It is advisable to have a filter or you will have to periodically add or completely replace the water.
The main problem of growing is in the climate. He prefers the southern regions, where rice, grapes, watermelons, etc. feel good. The plant has a long growing season. He constantly needs sunlight, warmth, highhumidity and water temperature within 25-30 °С.
History and limiting factors
The first notes about the walnut lotus as one of the representatives of the genus Water Lilies were made by Carl Linnaeus in 1753. A few years later (1763), the French naturalist M. Adanson identified plants as a separate group. Now the genus is represented by only two species: walnut lotus and American yellow.
Lotus has been revered as a sacred plant in most (if not all) countries of Southeast Asia for many centuries. He played an important role in various ceremonies, rituals, legends. Evidence of this are the most ancient monuments of architecture, literature and art. In India, our entire Earth was represented as a large lotus flower that blossomed on the surface of the water. The gods were depicted sitting or standing on it. And to this day, temples and sacred places are decorated with amazingly beautiful lotus flowers, as a symbol of purity and nobility (after all, it grows out of dirty silt, but at the same time it always remains white).
In Russia, the walnut lotus is listed in the Red Book, in the category of rare species. Factors contributing to the decline in the population are: drainage and pollution of water bodies, the collection of rhizomes and flowers for decorative and food purposes, the construction of dams.
Economic use
Since ancient times, people not only admired the beauty of the lotus, but also actively used it for food and medicinal purposes, asone of the most valuable plants. Chinese healers prepared drugs from it several thousand years before our era. Evidence of this was found during excavations of a Neolithic settlement in Bashidan (one of the very first in China). Its population did not just collect plants, the walnut lotus was actively cultivated. In southeastern Asian countries, it is still grown as a vegetable. Rhizomes, rich in starch, are eaten boiled, fried, raw, and even pickled, ground. Young leaves are used similarly to asparagus shoots. The seeds are candied or made into flour. Leaf petioles contain strong enough fibers that are used as a spinning material, they are used to make wicks.
Medicinal value
From ancient times, all parts of the plant have been used to prepare medicines. However, in India, Japan and some other countries this is true to this day. It has now been scientifically proven that the walnut lotus (photo above) contains many alkaloids and flavonoids. In China, its seeds are part of more than two hundred medicines. The plant is mainly used as a cardiotonic, tonic, dietary and general tonic.
Nut-bearing lotus, whose properties are not only practical, but also aesthetic, is one of the few relic plants that have survived to this day. It was created by nature in order to delight and heal people.
