Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn.

Leaves: petiole to 1.5 m long; lamina 20–70 cm across, with shallow sinus on one side, veins radiating from centre. Flowers 15–25 cm diam., mostly pink or reddish pink, rarely white, fragrant. Perianth: outermost segments 1.5–5 cm long, 1–4 cm wide; other segments gradually increasing in size inwards, to 6–13 cm long, 3–6 cm wide. Stamens: filaments 1.5–2.5 cm long; anthers linear, 1–1.5 cm long; connective appendage 4–8 mm long. Carpels 1–2 cm long; style c. 1 mm long; stigma c. 1 mm wide. Fruits slightly larger than carpels. Fruiting receptacle to 2–6 cm long, 2–12 cm wide, becoming hard and turning downwards, the openings widening to allow fruits to fall out.

It is a tropical plant but will grow in cooler places. It needs 20-30°C. It needs full sunshine. It can grow in deep water. It does best in fresh water. The pH can range from 5.6-7.5. It grows in wetlands. It is common in some parts of the Philippines such as Laguna de bay. It is also reported from Camarines, Mindoro, Cotabato and Davao. It will probably grow up to about 1000 m altitude. It occurs in the Fly and Sepik River areas in Papua New Guinea. It is cultivated in most of China except the very northern areas. It can grow in arid places. It suits hardiness zones 9-12. In XTBG Yunnan.

The seeds are eaten raw or roasted. Ripe seeds are prepared by removing the seedcoat and the intensely bitter plumule and then boiled in syrup. Slightly unripe seeds are also eaten raw. The seeds can be used as a coffee substitute. The white roots or rhizomes are eaten raw with meat. They can also be boiled, pickled, stir-fried or preserved in sugar. It is also the source of starch. The flower stalks are cooked as a vegetable. They are also eaten raw. The young tender leaves are eaten with a savoury sauce. The dry leaves are used to wrap food and impart flavour. The pollen and stamen are used for flavouring tea.

It can be grown from sections of the root or from seed. Seed germinate between 25-30°C. The hard seed coat needs to be cracked to enable seed to grow. Seed will remain viable for many years. Plants grown from seed vary as seed do not breed true. It needs to be in water at least 30-50 cm deep. Rhizomes with 2-3 segments are used. They are put in the mud at a 30° angle.