American Lotus

Description:

This is a large emergent plant with large pale whitish yellow blossom with more than 20 petals. The blossom may be up to 10 inches in diameter with a bright yellow seed-bearing cone in the center. Leaves are large and may be up to two feet in diameter. Leaves may float flat on the water, but they may also be held three feet above the water and will form a slight cone shape.

Habitat:

Wetlands and quiet shallow water.

Notes:

I found this bed of lotus last summer while on a canoe trip on the Mississippi River south of the St. Paul/Minneapolis area. Very impressive plants. I also photographed the Asian version, Nelumbo nucifera, a couple of decades ago when I was working in Viet Nam: I'll have to put that one up as well. Both species are very impressive plants!