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| First Cousins of Water-Lilies |
A native of India, the lotus was sacred to the ancient Hindus, the
bloom representing their country, the leaves, the surrounding countries
and cultures. To the Buddhists, it symbolized the most exalted representation of man-his head held high, pure and undefiled in the sun,
his feet rooted in the world of experience.
In other times, to other peoples, the magnificent blooms of the lotus,
fed by roots buried in the mud, have symbolized a king with a common
touch, beauty coming from filth and squalor, hope arising from chaos.
In very early civilizations, the flower was the emblem of female beauty
and fertility-a symbol of life itself.
How the Lotus Grows
I have heard a dozen people, I suppose, describe the lotus as "a big
water-lily." It is not. There is a world of difference which can be seen
at a glance. Blooms and foliage are not formed the same way. Both are
much larger than those of water-lilies.
The different species and varieties grow from 2 to 3 feet to 8 to 9 feet
high. The leaves, usually bluish-green, are round, often 21/2 feet across,
and gently frilled at the edge. They are shaped like shallow bowls and
without the customary notch at the junction of stem and leaf. Stout
stems support the leaves from a central point and usually in a flat position, particularly in uncrowded areas, and the leaves hold rain water
for hours after a shower. A leaf and stem look rather like a parasol, and
are often so used by our young visitors.
In many species and varieties, leaf surfaces are covered with thin
layers of wax, which causes drops of dew and rain to sparkle in the sun
and roll around on the leaves like quicksilver-a beautiful sight. In some
forms, leaves are covered with a fine, floury nap, which is also waterproof, and dew and rain water spell magic on these plants, too.
The huge and showy blooms, like tremendous, full-blown roses, are
frequently 10 to 12 inches across and are borne high above the foliage
on long, stout stems. Like those of the water-lilies, lotus blooms open
over a period of three days, at first partially and only for a few hours,
then for several hours on the second day, and finally, on the third, they
unfold completely. After that petals begin to drop away.
Most of the lotus blooms are fragrant, some quite powerfully so.
Scents are distinctive and comparable to no other flowers I know. I notice that the fragrance of the lotus is usually described as "mysterious"
or "Oriental."
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