Alias: Lotus, Lotus, Shuizhi, Furong, Blooming, Shuifu, Shuidan, Shuifurong, Zezhi, Yuhuan, Caofurong, June Spring, Chinese Lotus, etc.

Family and Genus: Nymphaeaceae, Nelumbo. There are two species of this genus, the other is Huang Lian, and N.pentapetala is produced in the United States.

Lotus is native to tropical Asia and Oceania. In addition to China, Japan, the Soviet Union, India, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Australia and other countries have distribution.

Before artificial cultivation in China, there were wild lotus flowers a long time ago. Professor Ren Xu, a paleobotanist, discovered lotus leaf fossils in Qaidam Basin 40 years ago, which is at least 654.38 billion+0 billion years ago. 1973, 7,000-year-old lotus pollen fossils were found among the cultural relics unearthed from Hemudu Cultural Site in Yuyao County, Zhejiang Province. In the same year, two carbonized lotus seeds were found in Yangshao cultural site in Zhengzhou City, Henan Province, 5000 years ago. In the early Western Zhou Dynasty (BC 1 1 century), the ancients ate about 40 kinds of vegetables, and lotus root was one of them. There is a phrase "flowers in the cheeks" in Yujing, which means that lotus flowers grow everywhere in the swamp waters of the motherland.

Today, there is still a large area of wild lotus near the Lotus River in Xingkai Lake, Mishan County, Heilongjiang Province. Lotus in China starts from Hainan Island in the south (about 19 degrees north latitude), reaches Fujin in Heilongjiang Province in the north (47.3 degrees north latitude), borders Shanghai and Taiwan Province Province in the east, and reaches Tianshan Mountain in the west, and is distributed in most parts of the country except Xizang Autonomous Region and Qinghai Province. The vertical distribution can reach 2000 meters, and it can also be seen in the deep mountains and ponds of Qinling and Shennongjia. Since 1980s, Wuhan City, Hubei Province has become a modern lotus variety resource center and research center. There is a Susan Temple in meishan county, Sichuan. There is a lotus pond in the temple, and there is a pavilion in the pond: Ruilian Pavilion. There is a couplet on the pole of the pavilion, which reads: "The affectionate moon invites you * * *, and the ownerless lotus blooms everywhere". Lotus blooms everywhere in China with its unique charm!

Lotus is an aquatic flower that steals roots. Lotus root is the underground big stem of lotus, which grows horizontally in the mud. There are many holes of different sizes in the cross section of lotus root, which is the air cavity formed by lotus to adapt to life in water. This kind of air cavity can also be seen in petioles and pedicels. There are also many small ducts for transporting water on the stem, and the walls of the ducts are attached with thickened mucilage lignocellulose. There is a certain elasticity, and many white lotus roots appear when the fracture is elongated. Old lotus root has more silk than micro lotus root. The terminal bud of seed lotus root is called "lotus root", and it is covered with scales. After germination, white slender underground stems are drawn out, which is called "lotus root band". Lotus root band is segmented, and adventitious roots are surrounded by nodes. During festivals, leaves and flowers are drained. The new lotus root formed at the top of the lotus root belt is called the main lotus root. The vigorous lotus root has 4-7 lotus root tubes, each with a length of10-25cm and a diameter of about 6-12cm. The branch of the main lotus root is called the secondary lotus root; The young onion that grows again from the sub-lotus root is called Sun Lotus Root, which is often only 1 node. The size, shape, color, morning and evening, depth of mud, quality and flavor of lotus root vary from variety to variety, and are also affected by cultivation and conditions. The leaves are large, with a diameter of 70 cm, and the whole plant is shield-shaped with radial veins 14-2l. The leaves are dark green and rough, covered with short and blunt thorns. There is a layer of waxy white powder between thorns, so rain can condense into rolling water drops.

The so-called "falling beads are broken and round" (Tang Du Fu's poem) celebrates the unique dynamic landscape of lotus after rain. The back of the leaves is green, smooth and hairless, the veins are raised, and there is a cylindrical petiole in the center to clean and jerk the lotus leaves. There are dense spines on the stalk, the joint between the petiole and the underground stem is white, and the water and water are divided into green.

There are three kinds of leaves: Mr. Ding Ya's leaves, small in shape and thin in handle, float on the water, called money leaves, or money leaves; The first leaves that grow from the lotus root are slightly larger and also float on the water, which is called floating leaves; Later, the leaves protruding from the lotus root were called vertical leaves. Whether it is money leaves, floating leaves or vertical leaves, they are all rolled into ribbed strips before they come out of the water. The size, height and sequence of vertical leaves show obvious ascending and descending steps with the growth time. When the new lotus root is formed, the erect leaves pulled out are bigger than the previous one, but the thorns are shorter, which is called "dorsal leaf". A small leaf with a short stem and reddish back appears in front of it, which is called "terminal leaf". Only by identifying the terminal leaves can people find the position of the new lotus root in the mud.

The flower primordium of lotus is planted in the bud of lotus root area, on the back of the base of young leaves; Flowers solitary, bisexual; Sepals 4-5, green, falling off after flowering; The battalion commander is peach-shaped, peach-shaped or round-peach-shaped, dark purple or grayish green; Flowers can be divided into single petals, compound petals, double petals and thousand petals, and the colors are crimson, pink, white, brownish green and intermediate colors. The flowering period is from June to September, and the single flowering period is only 3-4 days, most of which are closed at noon, and thousands of petals can be opened 10 days or more; The largest flower diameter can reach 30 cm, and the smallest is less than 10 cm; Stamens 60-450 or petaloid, anther fragments yellow, filaments white; The head is born, the ovary is superior, the carpels are separated, and they are scattered in the bowl-shaped and trumpet-shaped green receptacle. The swollen receptacle after withering is called lotus, which has 3-30 lotus cells. When it develops normally, each carpel forms an oval nut. Sometimes carpels are "blistered" or petal-shaped and cannot form fruits. This kind of fruit, commonly known as lotus seed, has a turquoise skin when it is green and turns dark blue when it matures. There are stomata and guard cells on the surface of pericarp, solid and dense palisade tissue under epidermis, and stomatal channels under stomata. The stomatal passage of mature lotus seed peel is very small, which hinders the free entry and exit of air and water, and even hinders the entry of microorganisms. This special organizational structure ensures the longevity of lotus seeds. It can be buried in the stratum for thousands of years without being destroyed, and can even be used for sowing and germination. In 1950s, China scientists and technicians discovered some ancient lotus seeds in the peat stratum of Pulandian, Liaoning Province. At that time, scientists from Beijing Botanical Garden of Chinese Academy of Sciences, the Soviet Union, Japan and other countries used them for germination experiments and achieved success. They are called ancient lotus seeds, with a thin seed coat outside and a nutritious white endosperm inside. In the center of endosperm, there is a green and tasty germ, commonly known as lotus.

China is rich in lotus species resources, with about 200 species. The classification of lotus varieties is based on the historical evolution of artificial cultivation of lotus, combined with practical cultivation and application. Species and types are the premise of variety classification, the size of plant type is the first-level classification standard, the double petals of flowers are the second-level classification standard, and the color is the third-level classification standard. A small variety (Bowl Lotus) refers to a variety whose seeds can bloom in pots (cans) with a diameter of less than 26 cm, with an average flower diameter of less than 12 cm, an average vertical leaf diameter of less than 24 cm and an average height of less than 33 cm. One of them exceeds the index and is included in large and medium-sized plant varieties. According to this classification method, it includes 3 series, 5 groups, 12 categories and 28 groups. The representative lotus varieties are as follows:

I. China Lotus Series

(1) Dazhong Hua 1. The number of single petals is 2-20. (1) red-violet group, such as \''''''''''''''''''''''''. (2) pink lotus groups, such as''''''''''''''' East Lake Red Lotus'''''''''. (3) White Lotus Group, such as'''''''''' East Lake White Lotus, etc. 2. The number of compound valves is 2 1-590 (1), such as \''''''''''''''''''. 3. The number of double valves is 60- 190. (1) Red lotus array, such as \''''''''''' Red Chiba \'''''' and so on. (2) pink lotus groups such as \ """""""and so on. (3) Bai Lianhua Group, such as \' \' \' \' \' \' \' \' \' and so on. (4) Only 1 species, that is,''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''. 4. There are only 1 species in the L group of Lilium brownii (1), namely: \'''''' 5. There are only 1 species in the (1)L group, that is, \''''''''''''''''''''''.' The abnormal receptacle of' Thousand Petals Lotus' can be divided into two or more axes. When the flower opens, the outer petals become thinner layer by layer, and the broken petals in the inner layer proliferate and rotate into two or more flower hearts. When the shape is double, it is called "Ice Lotus", when it is three, it is called "Pinzi Lotus", when it is four, it is called "Wuzi Lotus" and "Hydrangea Lotus" when it is multi-petal, and none of them will form lotus. In fact, these are all a kind of flower variation phenomenon of'''''''''''''''''''''', which cannot be a variety alone. There is also a phenomenon that the flower buds of lotus split into two meristems during the differentiation process under the influence of some external environmental conditions, and then developed into two buds like twins, so two flowers were arranged side by side on a flower stalk to form a pair of lotus flowers. This is an accidental phenomenon, not a variety characteristic, and cannot be inherited.

(2) floret (Nelumbo nucifera group) 1. The number of single petals is LL-200 (1). Red bowl lotus colony is like \' \' \' \' \' \' \' (2) pink lotus colony is like \' \' \' \' \' \' (3) white lotus. The number of compound valves is 2L-590 (1), such as \' \' \' \' \' \' \' (2) pink lotus group, such as pink lotus, and o (3) white lotus group, such as starlight. 3. The number of double petals is 600~ 1300 (1), for example. (2) Pink Bowl Lotus Group, such as''''''''''' Little Drunken Fairy''''''''. (3) White Bowl Lotus Group, such as \'''''''''''' Snow White \''''''''.

Second, the lotus system in the United States.

(1) Large and medium-sized flora 1. Univalvular (1) Huang Lian formation, such as \' \' \' \' \' \'

Third, Sino-American hybrid lotus strains.

(1) Large and medium-sized flower groups 1. Single-petaled (1) red lotus colony, such as \''''''''''''''''' red scarf \''''''''. (2) pink lotus groups, such as \' \' \' \' \' \' \' \' and so on. (3) Huang Lian group, such as \' \' \' \' \' \' \' \' \ '(4) multi-color lotus groups such as \'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''. 2. A compound (1) white lotus group, such as'''''

(2) floret (Nelumbo nucifera group) 1. Monopetaloid (1) Sect. Huangwanlian, such as Xiaojinfeng 2. The complex (1) white lotus groups, such as'''''''''' learn to dance'' Its phenology in the Yangtze River flow field is: it germinates in early April and floats in mid-April. Ye Ting Water Club will be established in the middle and late May; Flowering begins in early June, and the flowering period is from late June to early August; Mid-September is the last flowering period. July and August are the concentrated mature periods of fruits; The maturity of underground stem (lotus root) is in the middle and late September; The middle and late June of 10 is the stem and leaf withering period. Then go to bed. The whole growth period is about 160- 190 days. Lotus prefers wet to dry, prefers relatively stable still water to fluctuating running water. The water depth of 0.3- 1.2 m is suitable for pond planting. When planting lotus roots, the water level should be between 20 and 40 cm. In the water depth of 1.5 meters, only a few floating leaves can be seen, and leaves without standing can't bloom. If the standing leaves are submerged for more than 10 days, they are in danger of being destroyed. When water is lost in the growing season, as long as the soil is still wet, it will not die, but the growth will be reduced, and irrigation can be resumed within 10 days. If the soil cracks for 3-5 days, the leaves will be scorched and the growth will stagnate; If water is cut off for another 4-5 days, the lotus root will dry up. Lotus likes heat, the temperature should be at least above 15℃ in planting season, and its growth will stagnate when the temperature is lower than 15℃ in autumn. During the whole growth period, the optimum temperature is 20℃. 30℃。 When the air temperature is as high as 465438 0℃ (the water temperature is only 26-27℃), it has no effect on the growth. When the temperature drops below 0℃ in winter, potted lotus roots are prone to aging. Lotus likes light, but is not tolerant of shade. It grows fast under strong light, blooms early, but withers early; Although growth and development are advocated in weak light, flowering is late, but withering is also late. Lotus is not strict in choosing soil, and fertile clay rich in organic matter is more suitable. The suitable PH value is 6.50. Less pests and diseases, strong fluorine resistance, and certain resistance to sulfur dioxide gas. Underground stems and roots will lose resistance to toxic sewage containing strong phenol and cyanide.

In garden application, splitting lotus is often used for propagation, because it can maintain the genetic characteristics of parents and can watch flowers in the same year. If you want to cultivate new varieties, you must first pollinate and then sow hybrid seeds. It can't bloom for half of the year when it is propagated by sowing. Both new lotus seeds and old lotus seeds can be used for sowing. Lotus seeds can germinate without sleeping. The optimum sowing temperature in the Yangtze River basin is 17-24℃, and the suitable sowing period is from mid-April to May. It should be late in the north. Because the lotus shell is like a sealed warehouse, the tissue is tight and hard, it must be treated by "breaking the head" (that is, breaking a small mouth at the concave end of the lotus seed to expose the seed coat), and then put it in a container filled with clear water for 3-5 days. The water depth is as deep as soaking the lotus, and the water is changed 1 time a day. When two or three tender leaves grow on the lotus, they can be sown with soil in a non-porous flowerpot. When sowing, put the lotus seeds on the edge of the pot, each pot is 1 grain, and slowly press them so that the back of the lotus is flush with the mud. When the lotus seedling leaves stand out of the water, they should be transplanted into large and medium-sized plants filled with soil, and be careful not to let the soil scatter or break the petiole. When sowing in the pond, it is also necessary to "break the head" to soak the seeds, and then take them out and insert them into the pond mud with a water depth of 10- 15 cm. After 1 week, new roots can germinate, leaves are removed and floating leaves come out after 1 week.

Propagation by dividing the lotus root: if it is planted in a pond, it is generally cultivated with the whole lotus root. When cutting the cylinder and basin, you can use the main lotus root, the remaining lotus root and the sun lotus root. No matter whether it is planted in a pond, a pot or a pot, all kinds of lotus roots should have complete buds (top growth points), otherwise it is not easy to bloom in the same year after planting. When the temperature in the Yangtze River basin rises above 15℃ around Qingming Festival, it is a good time for lotus to breed. When planting a pond, drain the pond water first, turn the pond mud over and rake it flat, apply sufficient fertilizer, and then plant your wishes. When planting, the lotus root is held in the left hand and the top node of the lotus root is held in the right hand, and the barnyard grass buds are protected with the middle finger, pointing to the center of the pond, and the barnyard grass buds are inserted upward into the mud at an angle of 20-30 degrees, so that the tail node stands on the mud surface, and the water is discharged for 20-30 cm for one or two days. The operation method of planting lotus in a tank (basin) is basically the same as that in a pond, except that the lotus root is slowly inserted into the mud near the wall of the tank (basin).

The place where lotus flowers are planted in the tank should be sheltered from the wind and have sufficient light. Family pots should be placed on the balcony or yard. Practice has proved that when lotus is cultivated in a place with less than 5 hours of sunshine, it often grows only leaves and is difficult to bloom. In the early stage of sub-planting, water should not be too much, no matter whether it is planted in pool or cylinder, because shallow water will increase soil temperature and be beneficial to the early growth of lotus seedlings. With the growth of floating leaves and vertical leaves, the water level will gradually increase, but the water level in the deepest part of the pond should not exceed 1.5 meters. Potted plants should be watered 1 time in summer, and small bowl plants should be watered daily. If the water for watering lotus is groundwater, it must be introduced into the water tank first, and then used after the water temperature rises due to sun exposure.

In late autumn and severe winter, the lotus has stopped growing and entered a dormant period, so it is not necessary to water it frequently, and the shallow water can be kept in the basin. In the north, you should spend the winter indoors. Lotus is planted in the lake pond. If the pond mud is fertile, it is generally not topdressing. Pots and potted plants, if the base fertilizer is sufficient, do not need topdressing; In particular, the bowl lotus is rich and perishable, which deserves attention. During the growing season, it was found that the lotus leaves were yellow and had no disease spots, so topdressing should be used to promote strength. All available nitrogen fertilizers on the market can be applied. If farmyard manure is used, it should be fully decomposed, master the principle of thin fertilizer and light application, and don't pollute the leaves. There are often weeds such as revolutionary grass and barnyard grass in the pond, which have an influence on the growth of lotus. Revolutionary grass, in particular, is in danger of being "eaten" when it spreads, and should be cut off in time.

In May and June, when the lotus leaves grow vigorously, herbicides can be used, and the dosage per mu is 25% herbicide ether 1 kg plus 25% diuron 0. 1 kg. After taking the medicine, some floating leaves will be damaged by the medicine, but new leaves will grow quickly, which has no obvious effect on growth. Weeds in tanks and pots should be pulled out at any time; Duckweed, algae, etc. Not only rob the fertilizer, but also reduce the temperature, affecting the water quality, so it is necessary to clean it up in time. In the Yangtze River basin, lotus flowers can overwinter in the open field. Before the arrival of severe winter, potted bowl lilies must be put into an ice-free deep pool, moved indoors or buried in deep soil for the winter. Lotus is tenacious, and the lotus of Datang can resist general pests and diseases.

There are many diseases and insect pests in lotus plants, and the main common pests are: cockroach: commonly known as marsupial; Larvae are omnivorous pests. After hatching in mid-June, climb the branches to spin silk and send it to the lotus leaf with the wind. They use spun silk as a bag to protect themselves and stick out their heads to bite lotus leaves and buds. When the pest is serious, 20-30 heads can be hung on the back of a lotus leaf, and the old and new lotus leaves can be eaten into holes. Prevention and control methods: Pottery workers mainly pick at random or spray 90% trichlorfon, 1500-2000 times more than 800 times Penicillium. This medicine is also effective for scarab, yellow thorn moth and so on. It is harmful to lotus leaves. Aphids: Nymphs or adults gather on new leaves, leaves, petioles and buds to suck juice. When the pest is serious, the new lotus will shrink and the bud will wither. 1 year can occur for more than 20 generations, mainly from April to September, especially in late spring and Mid-Autumn Festival. When 3% Zhinandan granules appear in large quantities, they can be removed from tank water and basin water. At the same time, it can also kill Gege mosquito larvae that sneak into the mesophyll of floating leaves. Spodoptera litura: Larvae feed on leaves, flowers and tender stems, often occurring in July and August. It can be sprayed with 50% zinc sulfate emulsifiable concentrate, 80% dichlorvos emulsifiable concentrate or 40% omethoate 1500 times solution. It can be captured manually when it is first started.

The main diseases are leaf blight and leaf blight, both of which occur on lotus leaves from June to September, especially in rainy season. Leaf Blight: At the initial stage of the disease, chlorosis spots appear on the leaves, which gradually expand in the later stage, causing the tissues around the spots to be necrotic, and turn into brown to dark brown annular spots after drying up. Spot disease: the lesion is round, with a diameter of 0.5-8 mm, with sunken protrusions and light brown to yellowish brown. These two diseases have effects on the growth, development and ornamental effect of lotus. Spraying 25% Dove wettable powder or thiophanate methyl powder on lotus leaves in the morning and evening can achieve about 70% effect. In recent years, the research on lotus genetics and breeding in China has developed rapidly and achieved remarkable results.

First, in cytogenetics, such as Huang Guozhen, we discussed the correlation between lotus double petals and karyotype variation, and found for the first time that lotus double petals were caused by structural mutation of some chromosomes. Huang Guozhen also discussed the double petals of lotus and its genetic basis, and found that double petals are recessive traits in lotus inheritance.

Secondly, in the task and direction of breeding, we mainly breed new lotus varieties with big flowers and small flowers, flowers and fruits, tolerance to friends and deep water. In recent years, the focus is on the yellow double-petal lotus, especially the new variety of bowl. The breeding of yellow highly double-petal friendship peony lotus is a great miracle in the lotus world!

Thirdly, there are many breakthroughs in cross-pollination and new breeding techniques. If pistil ripening is found and used, crabs before pollination can be saved; The high compatibility of interspecific hybridization of lotus was found, and distant hybridization breeding was carried out by Coptis University in the United States. Master the methods and techniques of using natural polyploid and artificially inducing polyploid. However, seedling selection method is still the most commonly used breeding method today, because it is simple, applicable and immediate. Tissue culture technology of lotus has not been completely broken. At present, the low reproductive coefficient of new varieties has become the main obstacle to the great development of lotus. Lotus is not only a famous ornamental plant, but also an important economic plant. As an ornamental plant, its flowers are large and colorful, fragrant, clear and beautiful. It is straightforward, not sloppy, facing the sun without fear, emerging from the mud without staining, and has become one of the themes of poets' singing and painting in past dynasties.

Lotus has strong vitality and adaptability, and can be cultivated in most areas of China. Since ancient times, lotus has become a precious aquatic flower in court gardens or private courtyards. It is also widely used in modern landscape architecture.

In the family, some decorate the balcony, and some insert bottles of cleaning supplies to beautify the living environment. Lotus, as an economic plant, has a wide range of uses and is full of treasures. Its underground stem-lotus root is an aquatic vegetable with rich nutrition and many ways to eat it. Lotus leaf roll porridge steamed meat, unique flavor. Tender lotus root and green ripe lotus root are rare summer fruits, which are sweet and refreshing when eaten raw. Lotus root powder or candied lotus root slices are tonics for women and children. Lotus seeds have extremely high nutritional value. Xianglian and Jianlian are treasures in lotus seeds and sell well at home and abroad.