Lotus root It is one of the earliest species of angiosperms. According to the fossils studied by paleobotanists, lotus plants were distributed in many waters in the northern hemisphere10.35 billion years ago. At that time, in the late period of the rapid decline of the giant reptile dinosaur, its growth time on the earth was much earlier than the appearance of human ancestors (2 million years ago). According to Paleobotany (1965) by A.H. Christophevich of the former Soviet Union, lotus fossils have been found in Cretaceous strata in the Arctic of North America and amur river Basin of Asia (i.e. Heilongjiang), as well as Oligocene and Miocene strata in Europe and East Asia (Sakhalin Island) and Japan. At that time, the temperature on the earth was warmer than it is now. There were about 10~ 12 species of lotus plants distributed in five continents. With the advent of the post-glacial period, the global temperature dropped, making many plants extinct, while others were forced to drift away, completely breaking the original geographical distribution. Because of this disaster, two varieties of lotus survived, and their distribution range narrowed. Chinese lotus (Nelumbo nucifera) is distributed in Asia and northern Oceania, and N.lutea drifts to North America. Paleobotanists also pointed out that the lotus fossils from Pleistocene to Holocene (2 million years ago) excavated in Hokkaido and Kyoto are similar to modern China lotus; The lotus leaf fossils unearthed in Qaidam Basin, China, 6.5438+million years ago are similar to modern China lotus. In 1970s, China Institute of Petroleum Exploration and Development Planning, Ministry of Petrochemical Industry and Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology, Chinese Academy of Sciences recorded in the book "Early Tertiary Sporopollen in Coastal Areas of Bohai Sea" that two kinds of lotus pollen fossils were found in Panshan, Liaoning, Beidagang, Tianjin, Kenli, Guangrao, Shandong and Cangzhou, Hebei. Fossils of the genus Nelumbo were also found in the strata of Changchang Basin in Qiongshan, Hainan Island, China, in the Tertiary tropical phytogeographical region. At present, the original wild lotus is still distributed in lakes and swamps in Fuyuan, Hulin, Tongjiang and Shangzhi counties of Heilongjiang Province. The above shows that lotus is an ancient plant before the Ice Age, which belongs to the representative of relict plant, such as Paeonia suffruticosa, Ginkgo biloba, Liriodendron chinense in China, Sequoia sempervirens and so on. , not swallowed by the glaciers of the ice age and survived.
Lotus varieties:
There are many cultivated varieties of lotus, which can be divided into three types according to different cultivation purposes, namely lotus root, lotus seed and Hualien. Lotus is called lotus root, which mainly produces lotus root, and this kind of variety has few flowers; Purple lotus, which mainly produces lotus seeds, has dense flowers, but its ornamental value is not as good as that of Hualien. Hualien, which is mainly ornamental, is mostly bubble-shaped or petal-shaped, and often cannot bear fruit.
At present, there is no unified classification standard for Hualien varieties in China. In long-term cultivation, gardeners usually put the most stable part of genetic traits in the first place. According to the color, it is divided into red, pink, claw red, white, yellow, yellow red and yellow with purple spots. According to the number of valves, it can be divided into few valves, half double valves and double valves. Less valves are less than 265,438+0 valves, half double valves are 22-50 valves, and double valves are more than 565,438+0 valves. According to the flower diameter and pedicel height, it can be divided into large flower type, medium flower type and small flower type. The flower diameter of large pattern is more than 20 cm, and the height of pedicel is more than 90 cm; The flower diameter of the middle pattern is 13- 19 cm, and the height of the pedicel is 51-90 cm. The diameter of floret flower is 7- 12 cm, and the height of pedicel is below 50 cm (below 30 cm).
Use of lotus:
Lotus is a thick rhizome of perennial aquatic plants in Nymphaeaceae, which is native to India and China. Cultivated in China for about 3,000 years, it has spread all over China. It is a food with high carbohydrate and low fat. Besides protein, starch, vitamins, carotene and asparagine, it also contains alkaloids such as asparagine, amino acids, fenugreek, catechol and neochlorogenic acid. Lotus root is harvested in autumn, winter and early spring, and it is better to be fat, white and sweet. It is fresh and tender when eaten raw, and strong and old when cooked.
The effective components of lotus seeds can inhibit hemodynamics, myocardial contractility, slow down heart rate, dilate coronary arteries, relax blood vessels, lower blood pressure, and have anti-arrhythmia and anti-myocardial ischemia effects. ● The alkaloids of lotus seeds have anti-free radical effect. Through the experiment of ventricular blood cell aggregation, it is confirmed that Lianzixin decoction has therapeutic and preventive effects on this model. ● Lotus seeds have anti-aging and longevity effects. ●●●● Lotus seeds contain oxidized lutein, which has the effect of inhibiting nasopharyngeal carcinoma. ● Alkaloids in lotus seeds have inhibitory activity on ADT enzyme on rat brain cell membrane.
Lotus leaf (lotus leaf) can clear away heat and detoxify; Rhizome node (lotus root node) can stop bleeding and remove blood stasis; Stamens (lotus roots) can strengthen kidney and astringent essence; The receptacle (lotus room) can remove blood stasis and stop bleeding.
Lotus seeds are good food for all ages. According to the research of scientists, the carbohydrate content of dried lotus seeds is as high as 62%, and the protein content is as high as 16.6%. The contents of fat, calcium, phosphorus, iron, vitamin B 1, B2 and carotene are also quite rich. As a valuable traditional Chinese medicine, it has the effects of invigorating spleen and lung, nourishing heart, consolidating essence and tonifying deficiency, and is suitable for palpitation, insomnia, nocturnal emission, excessive leucorrhea and chronic diarrhea. Medical books include "nourishing middle energizer" and "treating insomnia and dreaminess". Eating a bowl of lotus seed soup at night, or stewing lotus seed pig hearts, or cooking porridge with lotus seed glutinous rice can soothe the nerves and help sleep.
Application: During the Qin and Han Dynasties, ancestors used lotus as a tonic, and its medicinal use has been in China for more than 2,000 years. Lotus is a representative of holiness and a symbol of Buddhism. Lotus leaves the dust, clean and flawless. Therefore, the people of China and most Buddhist believers take the noble quality of lotus as their motto, encouraging themselves to lead a totally clean life. Lotus is the symbol and messenger of friendship. In ancient China, there was a tradition of sending plums in spring and picking lotus in autumn. Since ancient times, Chinese people have regarded lotus seeds as precious food, and they are still high-grade nourishing nutrition. Many places specialize in producing lotus seeds. Lotus root is the best vegetable and preserved fruit. Lotus leaves, lotus flowers and lotus plums are also popular medicated diets in China. It can be seen that the diet culture of lotus is rich and colorful. Traditional lotus seed porridge, preserved lotus seed, lotus seed powder, lotus root slices with meat, steamed pork with lotus leaves, lotus leaf porridge and so on are numerous. In China's flower culture, lotus is the most interesting object of flower-chanting poems and the subject of flower-and-bird painting. It is the most beautiful and colorful dance material; It is also the most commonly used and beautiful pattern decoration and modeling in various architectural decoration, sculpture techniques and daily necessities. Lotus is a famous traditional flower in China.