Nelumbo lutea Willd.

American Lotus; Yellow Lotus; Water Chinquapin

Herb

Perennial

Vascular

American Lotus is a large native herbaceous aquatic perennial in the Lotus-Lily family (Nelumbonaceae). It can be found throughout most of Alabama, but is particularly common in large lakes and swamps. American Lotus grows in ponds and lakes, in beaver ponds and sloughs, in sluggish streams and marshes, and in canals. It is a perennial with a thick, branching rhizome buried in the mud. The rhizomes form swollen storage tubers late in growing season. Leaves are petiolate, held above or floating on the water’s surface, orbicular in outline, glabrous, with entire margins. The leaves are peltate (the petiole attaches to the center lower surface of the leaf instead of at the margin). Flowers are solitary on long peduncles that exceed the leaves. Each flower has 14-30 pale yellow tepals. The pistils are embedded in the receptacle which is obconical and flat topped. The receptacle enlarges and becomes brown and woody with the hard, indehiscent, nut-like fruit embedded in its surface in circular pits. American Lotus is sometimes cultivated in large pools or ponds, but its use is limited by its size. It can also become aggressive and overtake small water bodies. The fruiting structures are often collected for use in dried flower arrangements.—A. Diamond

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Native OBL (NWPL)

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