国花系列:WATER LILY (印度)

Water lily is a common name for a small family of aquatic plants. The water lily's scientific family is Nympheaceae of the order Nymphaeales. The representative genus of the family is Nymphaea.

There are about 70 different species of water lilies. These are grouped into: night, tropical and hardy. Night lilies bloom in the night. Tropical lilies can be found in tropical climates and bloom at all times of the day. Hardy lilies are able to withstand most conditions and are the most common.

The water lily has long, stout leaves and long flower stalks. There are usually six petals and six stamen. Water lilies are also able to reproduce by budding. The roots detach and grow into new water lilies. The root of the lily is located in the mud at the bottom of a pond. Many lilies are produced through budding.

学名：Nelumbo mucifera

英名：Hindu Lotus

别名：莲花、芙蕖、水芝、水芙蓉、莲

科名：睡莲科

形态特征：多年生水生植物。根茎（藕）肥大多节，横生于水底泥中。叶盾状圆形，表面深绿色，被蜡质白粉，背面灰绿色，全缘并呈波状。叶柄圆柱形，密生倒刺。花单生于花梗顶端、高托水面之上，有单瓣、复瓣、重瓣及重台等花型；花色有白、粉、深红、淡紫色或间色等变化；雄蕊多数；雌蕊离生，埋藏于倒圆锥状海绵质花托内，花托表面具多数散生蜂窝状孔洞，受精后逐渐膨大称为为莲蓬，每一孔洞内生一小坚果（莲子）。花期6月－9月，每日晨开暮闭。果熟期9月－10月。荷花栽培品种很多，依用途不同可分为藕莲、子莲和花莲三大系统。

The water lilies are well adapted to their habitat. They grow and live on the edge of ponds and lakes, in the shallow water. The climate of their habitat is usually hot. They grow in areas where there are few plants and because of this, they don't have competition for sunlight. This is very important because sunlight is the main way that water lilies are able to receive food and energy. The water lilies leaves are usually large and are able to store a lot of energy. Water lilies usually live in water that is rich in oxygen and receives a lot of sunlight.

Water lilies are in danger because the wetlands are in danger. The wetlands are home to many species and the water lily is included. People are constantly draining the wetlands and do not know the species they are destroying: cattails, beavers, ducks, and water lilies just to name a few. Water lilies are able to reproduce rapidly, but if there is no where to reproduce, (like the wetland) it becomes impossible for reproduction.

印度国花，有的说是罂粟花，有的说是玫瑰花，印度不少诗人也在诗歌中赞颂这二种花，其实，印度的国花是荷花。印度荷花主要有七种，故有“七宝莲花”之称。实际上，七种荷花只有二种是荷花，即白莲花（芬陀利花）和红莲花（波头摩花），其它五种都是睡莲。在植物学中，荷也称莲，荷花和睡莲均属睡莲科，所以荷花也称莲花，果实叫莲蓬、莲子。莲子有惊人的生命力。日本千叶县发掘出的千年的古莲子，经过培植，竟然开花结实。

印度是佛教的发祥地，荷花则是佛经中常提到的象征物和吉祥物。荷花出淤泥而不染，洁身自处，与佛教主张的处世人格相合。正是因为荷花代表佛教，而佛教又来自印度，所以荷花在印度被视为尊严的神圣的像征。

荷花别名莲、莲花。睡莲科多年生水生植物。花单生，单瓣、复瓣、重瓣、重台及干瓣等我种类型。花瓣多达2000余枚。花叶美丽，清香致远。

荷花原产中国，日本、印度、斯里兰卡及澳大利亚等国都有分布。

荷花主要用于布置水面，点缀水景，或布置水景园；小型花品种可用于美化家居。作为经济植物，可说是浑身是宝，莲子、莲藕均可用于食用，营养价值极高。