29 

 LOTUS 



BOTANICAL 



The native yellow-flowered lotus, Nelumbo lutea, also called yon- 

 kapin, yonkanut, bonnets, or water chinkapin, is common in ponds 

 and lakes of the Mississippi Valley and occurs widely in the East. 

 A pink-flowered Asiatic species, N. nucifera, has been introduced 

 in various places but thus far has shown no tendency to become 

 a problem plant. 



This umbrella-leafed aquatic grows in water up to 8 feet deep. 

 It tolerates drops in water level, but a sudden rise covering leaves 

 for at least 12 days will kill mature plants. Vegetative spread by 

 runnerlike rootstocks is rapid — about 250 feet of new growth 

 in 1 year has been reported. Banana-shaped tubers, filled with 

 starchy food, are borne on the runners. The acornlike seeds may 

 germinate shortly after maturity or may remain dormant and 

 viable for hundreds of years. 



IMPORTANCE 

 A few species of ducks such as wood ducks and teal feed on 

 lotus seeds to a limited and generally insignificant extent — mainly 

 in late summer before the seedcoat has hardened. Tubers and 

 seeds were formerly eaten by Indians. In many localities the 

 plant is a serious pest, covering ponds with its rank vegetation 

 and precluding good growths of desirable duck-foods. 



