This is an archived copy of this article, recovered after a server failure in January 2022.

Some links may be broken, and editing is disabled. We are working to bring back full functionality.

Nelumbo lutea
  • American Water Lotus

a perennial member of the Nelumbo genus in the family Nelumbonaceae.

248px
Niche
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    The ecosystem niches for this plant are unknown. Do you know them? Click the edit button to add them!
Functions
  • None
    None
    There are no functions defined for this plant. Do you know of some? Click the edit button to add them!
Light
  • Full sun
    Full sun
    The amount of sun exposure that a plant prefers in ideal conditions.
    Key
  • no shade
    No shade
    The amount of shade a plant will tolerate without adverse health affects.
    Key
Water
  • Water Requirementsaquatic
    Aquatic
    The amount of water a plant needs for healthy growth, relative to other plants.
    Key
Soil
  • acid,neutral,alkaline
    Unknown
    The PH range (acidity or alkilinity) of the growth medium ideal for healthy nutrient absorbtion.
    Key
  • Sandy to Clay
    The soil texture this plant prefers for optimal growth.
    Key
Cold & Heat
  • 4
    Zone 4
    The USDA Hardiness scale assigns plants a number from 1 to 12 representing the minimum temperature a plant can survive.
    Key
    0< -53.9ºC< -65ºF
    1-51.1ºC-60ºF
    2-45.6ºC-50F
    3-40ºC-40ºF
    4-34.4ºC-30ºF
    5-28.9ºC-20ºF
    6-23.3ºC-10ºF
    7-17.8ºC0ºF
    8-12.2C10ºF
    9-6.7ºC20ºF
    10-1.1ºC30ºF
    114.4ºC40ºF
    12> 10ºC> 5ºF
  • ?
    Unknown
    The AHS Heat scale assigns plants a number from 1 to 12 representing the number of days per year a plant requires a temperature exceeding 30ºC (86ºF).
    Key
    11
    21 - 7
    38 - 14
    415 - 30
    531 - 45
    646 - 60
    761 - 90
    891 - 120
    9121 - 150
    10151 - 180
    11181 - 210
    12181 - 210
Nelumbo lutea has 0 edible uses listed
Nelumbo lutea has 0 medicinal uses listed

Uses

Edible uses

Notes

Root - cooked[1][2][3][4][5]. It is usually steeped in water prior to cooking in order to remove any bitterness[6]. The root is rich in starch[7], when baked it becomes sweet and mealy[8][9], somewhat like a sweet potato[10]. The root is usually harvested in the autumn and will store for several months[11].

Leaves and young stems - cooked[12][8][9][10]. Seed - raw or cooked[2][3][4][8][9]. A very agreeable taste[6][5]. The seed can be dried, ground into a powder and used for making bread, thickening soups etc or can be eaten dry[12][10]. The bitter tasting embryo is often removed. The half-ripe seed is said to be delicious raw or cooked, with a taste like chestnuts[10]. The seed contains up to 19% protein[13].

An edible oil can be extracted from the seed[14].

Unknown part

Oil

Root

Unknown use

Seed

Unknown use

Stem

Unknown use

Material uses

There are no material uses listed for Nelumbo lutea.

Medicinal uses(Warning!)

The root is pounded into a pulp, either fresh or dried, and used as a poultice for many inflammatory diseases[14].

Unknown part

Poultice

Ecology

Ecosystem niche/layer

Ecological Functions

Nothing listed.

Forage

Nothing listed.

Shelter

Nothing listed.

Propagation

Seed - file the seed across its centre, being very careful not to damage the flesh of the seed, and soak in warm water, changing the water twice a day until signs of germination are seen, which should be within 3 - 4 weeks at 25°c. Plant in individual pots just covered in water and increase the depth as the plant grows. Division in spring as the plant comes into growth. Be very careful, the plants deeply resent root disturbance[15].

Practical Plants is currently lacking information on propagation instructions of Nelumbo lutea. Help us fill in the blanks! Edit this page to add your knowledge.



Cultivation

Requires a rich loam[1] and a sunny position[16]. Succeeds in most soils[1]. Succeeds in water up to 0.6m deep[16].

Plants are half-hardy[16]. They should be hardy in the mild areas of Britain[1]. Grown as a food plant by the N. American Indians[1], it has been proposed for commercial cultivation[17].

The flowers are fragrant[18].

Crops

Problems, pests & diseases

Associations & Interactions

There are no interactions listed for Nelumbo lutea. Do you know of an interaction that should be listed here? edit this page to add it.

Polycultures & Guilds

There are no polycultures listed which include Nelumbo lutea.

Descendants

Cultivars

Varieties

None listed.

Subspecies

None listed.

Full Data

This table shows all the data stored for this plant.

Taxonomy
Binomial name
Nelumbo lutea
Genus
Nelumbo
Family
Nelumbonaceae
Imported References
Edible uses
[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14]
Medicinal uses
[14]
Material uses & Functions
Botanic
[2][15][19]
Propagation
Cultivation
Environment
Cultivation
Uses
Edible uses
None listed.
Material uses
None listed.
Medicinal uses
None listed.
Functions & Nature
Functions
Provides forage for
Provides shelter for
Environment
Hardiness Zone
4
Heat Zone
?
Water
aquatic
Sun
full sun
Shade
no shade
Soil PH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Soil Texture
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil Water Retention
Environmental Tolerances
    Ecosystems
    Native Climate Zones
    None listed.
    Adapted Climate Zones
    None listed.
    Native Geographical Range
    None listed.
    Native Environment
    None listed.
    Ecosystem Niche
    None listed.
    Root Zone Tendancy
    None listed.
    Life
    Deciduous or Evergreen
    ?
    Herbaceous or Woody
    ?
    Life Cycle
    perennial
    Growth Rate
    ?
    Mature Size
    1.8 x 1 meters
    Fertility
    ?
    Pollinators
    ?
    Flower Colour
    ?
    Flower Type
    hermaphrodite

    "image:Nelumbo lutea1mandj98.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Nelumbo lutea1mandj98.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Nelumbo lutea1mandj98.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

    "image:Nelumbo lutea1mandj98.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Nelumbo lutea1mandj98.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.


    "image:Nelumbo lutea1mandj98.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

    "image:Nelumbo lutea1mandj98.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

    "image:Nelumbo lutea1mandj98.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki., "image:Nelumbo lutea1mandj98.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki., "image:Nelumbo lutea1mandj98.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Nelumbo lutea1mandj98.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki., "image:Nelumbo lutea1mandj98.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki., "image:Nelumbo lutea1mandj98.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

    "image:Nelumbo lutea1mandj98.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.






    References

    1. ? 1.01.11.21.31.41.5 F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press (1951-00-00)
    2. ? 2.02.12.22.3 Fernald. M. L. Gray's Manual of Botany. American Book Co. (1950-00-00)
    3. ? 3.03.13.2 Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim (1959-00-00)
    4. ? 4.04.14.2 Harris. B. C. Eat the Weeds. Pivot Health (1973-00-00)
    5. ? 5.05.15.2 McPherson. A. and S. Wild Food Plants of Indiana. Indiana University Press ISBN 0-253-28925-4 (1977-00-00)
    6. ? 6.06.16.2 Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications ISBN 0-486-20459-6 (1972-00-00)
    7. ? 7.07.1 Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books ISBN 3874292169 (1984-00-00)
    8. ? 8.08.18.28.3 Saunders. C. F. Edible and Useful Wild Plants of the United States and Canada. Dover Publications ISBN 0-486-23310-3 (1976-00-00)
    9. ? 9.09.19.29.3 Turner. N. J. and Szczawinski. A. Edible Wild Fruits and Nuts of Canada. National Museum of Natural Sciences (1978-00-00)
    10. ? 10.010.110.210.310.4 Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications ISBN 0-9628087-0-9 (1990-00-00)
    11. ? 11.011.1 Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. ISBN 0-88192-453-9 (1998-00-00)
    12. ? 12.012.112.2 Elias. T. and Dykeman. P. A Field Guide to N. American Edible Wild Plants. Van Nostrand Reinhold ISBN 0442222009 (1982-00-00)
    13. ? 13.013.1 Weiner. M. A. Earth Medicine, Earth Food. Ballantine Books ISBN 0-449-90589-6 (1980-00-00)
    14. ? 14.014.114.214.3 Coffey. T. The History and Folklore of North American Wild Flowers. Facts on File. ISBN 0-8160-2624-6 (1993-00-00)
    15. ? 15.015.1 Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press ISBN 0-333-47494-5 (1992-00-00)
    16. ? 16.016.116.2 Brickell. C. The RHS Gardener's Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers Dorling Kindersley Publishers Ltd. ISBN 0-86318-386-7 (1990-00-00)
    17. ? Coon. N. The Dictionary of Useful Plants. Rodale Press ISBN 0-87857-090-x (1975-00-00)
    18. ? Genders. R. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale. London. ISBN 0-7090-5440-8 (1994-00-00)
    19. ? Britton. N. L. Brown. A. An Illustrated Flora of the Northern United States and Canada Dover Publications. New York. ISBN 0-486-22642-5 (1970-00-00)

    "image:Nelumbo lutea1mandj98.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

    Retrieved from "https://practicalplants.org/w/index.php?title=Nelumbo_lutea&oldid=78843"
    Facts about "Nelumbo lutea"RDF feed
    Article is incompleteYes +
    Article requires citationsNo +
    Article requires cleanupYes +
    Belongs to familyNelumbonaceae +
    Belongs to genusNelumbo +
    Has binomial nameNelumbo lutea +
    Has common nameAmerican Water Lotus +
    Has drought toleranceIntolerant +
    Has edible partUnknown part +, Root +, Seed + and Stem +
    Has edible useOil + and Unknown use +
    Has flowers of typeHermaphrodite +
    Has hardiness zone4 +
    Has imageNelumbo lutea1mandj98.jpg +
    Has lifecycle typePerennial +
    Has mature height1.8 +
    Has mature width1 +
    Has medicinal partUnknown part +
    Has medicinal usePoultice +
    Has primary imageNelumbo lutea1mandj98.jpg +
    Has search namenelumbo lutea + and american water lotus +
    Has shade toleranceNo shade +
    Has soil ph preferenceAcid +, Neutral + and Alkaline +
    Has soil texture preferenceSandy +, Loamy + and Clay +
    Has sun preferenceFull sun +
    Has taxonomic rankSpecies +
    Has taxonomy nameNelumbo lutea +
    Has water requirementsaquatic +
    Is taxonomy typeSpecies +
    PFAF cultivation notes migratedNo +
    PFAF edible use notes migratedNo +
    PFAF material use notes migratedYes +
    PFAF medicinal use notes migratedNo +
    PFAF propagation notes migratedNo +
    PFAF toxicity notes migratedYes +
    Tolerates nutritionally poor soilNo +
    Uses mature size measurement unitMeters +
    Has subobjectThis property is a special property in this wiki.Nelumbo lutea +, Nelumbo lutea +, Nelumbo lutea +, Nelumbo lutea + and Nelumbo lutea +