Lotus (plant)

Lotus identifies various plant taxa:

• Nelumbo, a genus of aquatic plants with showy flowers
  • Nelumbo nucifera, the Sacred or Indian lotus
  • Nelumbo lutea, the American or Yellow lotus

• Certain species of Nymphaea (water lilies or Egyptian lotuses):
  • Nymphaea caerulea, also known as blue lotus
  • Nymphaea lotus, white lotus or sacred lotus
  • Nymphaea nouchali, also known as star lotus

• Lotus (genus) (including bird's-foot trefoils and deervetches), a terrestrial genus with small flowers
• Saussurea involucrata (snow lotus), a herbaceous species from the Himalayan vicinity
• Ziziphus lotus, a shrub species with edible fruit
• Diospyros lotus, also known as date-plum or Caucasian persimmon, a tree with edible fruit chaitra

A mythological plant:

• Lotus tree, the mythological incarnation of Lotis

• Lotus leaf and stem surfaces are coated in a wax that is super-hydrophobic, meaning it repels water and is very difficult to wet. This hydrophobic adaptation is referred to as the “lotus effect” and has inspired many products that emulate its properties, such as paints, fabrics and roof tiles, according to Science Ray.