54. N. Lotus, Linn. h.f.b.i. i. 114.
Syn.:—N. rubra, Roxb. N. edulis, DC.
Habitat:—Common throughout the warmer parts of India, abundant in Bombay, Thana district, Ceylon streams, tanks, ponds, up to 1,000 ft.
Sansk.:—Raktotpala (Red lotus), Kokonada (Lotus), Hallaka (Red lotus), Raktasandhika (Red joints), Nilotpala (Blue lotus), Kunalaya (Lotus), Bhadra (Auspicious), Indivara (Good lotus).
Vern:-~Kanval; Chota Kanval (H.); Shaluk; Saluk; nal; Koi (parched seeds); rakta kamal (red variety; Chota sundi (B.); Dhaala-Lain; rangkahi (Orissa); Kuni; puni; lorhi (mot); napo (seeds) (Sind); Alli-phul (Dec.); Kanval; Kanval; nilophal (Guz.); La] a Kamal. Rakta Kamal (Marathi); Alli-tamarai, Ambal (Tam.); Alli-tamara; tella-kaluva; koteka; Erra-kaluva (red var.); Kalha-ramu(Tel.); Nyadale-huvu (Kan.); Ampala (Malay); Otu-Et-Olu (Sinhalese;—.
Parts used:—The flowers, root and seeds.
N.B.:—Trimen observes thus:—The colour of the flowers varies from pale pink or nearly white to a deep rich rose-colour. Their size is also very variable; but these differences are not united with any structural ones of sufficient importance to distinguish separate species.
An aquatic creeping herb. Rootstock short, erect, roundish, tuberous. Leaves on very long, erect, cylindrical, submerged petioles. Blade horizontal, floating, peltate 6-8 in. diam., sagittate-rotundate, very obtuse, with a narrow or wide sinus 3 in. deep at base, coarsely and sharply sinuate-dentate, smooth above, more or less densely and finely velvet-tomentose beneath, with veins very prominent. Flowers solitary, very large, 5-7 in. diam., on very long, usually pubescent, peduncles. Sepals oblong, obtuse, ribbed, glabrous or pilose externally. Petals about 12, oblong or oval-oblong, obtuse, spreading. Stamens about 40, anthers without cippendages, filaments dilated at base Rays of stigma terminating in fleshy, club-shaped, incurved appendages. Fruit H in. diam., globular, fleshy, green, crowned with erect connivent, stiff, persistent sepals. Cells
