What is the main value of lotus? The growth habits and smell of lotus

Lotus has always been a symbol of purity and nobility. From ancient times to the present, people have never lacked praise for lotus. For example, "The lotus leaves are endless and green, and the lotus flowers are red in the sun" is a true portrayal of the beauty of lotus. Lotus is a portrayal of its noble character of "being straight inside and outside, without vines or branches, growing out of mud without being stained, and washing in the clear water without being coquettish". Lotus has always been one of the themes of poets and writers' songs and paintings. Today, Encyclopedia Knowledge Network mainly introduces the value, growth habits, and smell of lotus.

Contents of this article

1. The main value of lotus

2. Growth habits of lotus

3. The smell of lotus

The main value of lotus

edible

In ancient China, there was a tradition of picking plum blossoms in spring to send to distant relatives and picking lotus in autumn to remember loved ones. Since ancient times, Chinese people have regarded lotus seeds as precious food. Today, they are still high-end nourishing and nutritious products. Many places specialize in lotus seed production. Lotus root is the best vegetable and candied fruit. Lotus leaves, lotus flowers, lotus stamens, etc. are also Chinese people's favorite medicinal foods. It can be seen that the lotus food culture is rich and colorful. Traditional lotus seed porridge, lotus pods, lotus seed powder, lotus root slices with meat, lotus leaf steamed meat, lotus leaf porridge, etc. The leaves are a substitute for tea and also used as packaging materials.

The underground stems of lotus grow in the mud and can be infected by toxic substances. However, the lotus root has a very fine epidermal tissue and a tannin-containing subcutaneous tissue, which can block or absorb toxic substances. Therefore, toxic substances often adhere to the epidermis or penetrate into the epidermis. When eating lotus root, you should peel off the skin to prevent toxic substances from being eaten.

Medicinal

The Compendium of Materia Medica records that lotus, lotus seeds, lotus clothing, lotus pods, lotus stamens, lotus seed cores, lotus leaves, lotus stems, lotus root nodes, etc. can all be used for medicinal purposes. Lotus can promote blood circulation and stop bleeding, remove dampness and eliminate wind, clear the heart and cool blood, and relieve heat and detoxify. Lotus seeds can nourish the heart, benefit the kidneys, tonify the spleen, and astringe the intestines. Lotus stamens can clear the heart, benefit the kidneys, astringe the essence, stop bleeding, relieve heat and relieve restlessness, and promote the production of body fluids and quench thirst. Lotus leaves can clear away heat and dampness, raise yang and stop bleeding, and lose weight. The simple ingredients in lotus leaves have a miraculous effect on cleaning the stomach and intestines, reducing fat and removing blood stasis. Lotus root nodes can stop bleeding, disperse blood stasis, and relieve heat and toxins. Lotus stems can clear away heat and relieve heat, ventilate and promote water circulation, and purge fire and clear the heart.

These Chinese medicines come from the same plant, but different parts have different effects: lotus root nodes stop bleeding and disperse blood stasis; lotus leaves clear away heat and dampness, promote the flow of clear yang, and stop bleeding; lotus stems clear away heat and relieve summer heat, ventilate and relieve summer heat; lotus leaf stalks clear away heat and dampness, harmonize blood and stabilize pregnancy; lotus flowers promote blood circulation and stop bleeding, remove dampness and eliminate wind; lotus pods remove blood stasis, stop bleeding, and remove dampness; lotus stamens clear the heart, benefit the kidneys, astringe sperm, and stop bleeding; lotus seeds nourish the heart, benefit the kidneys, tonify the spleen, and astringe the intestines, with Hunan's "Xiang lotus seeds" being the most famous; lotus skins can be astringent, and ginseng can supplement spleen yin; lotus seed cores clear the heart, remove heat, stop bleeding, and astringe sperm. Due to the wide variety of lotus varieties, the efficacy of different parts of different varieties may be slightly different.

The lotus has a lot of value. It is not only beautiful and edible, but also can be used as medicine in many places.

Growth habits of lotus

Lotus is an aquatic plant that likes relatively stable calm shallow water, lakes, marshes, and ponds, which are its suitable habitats. The amount of water required by lotus depends on its variety. Large varieties such as ancient lotus and red Qianye prefer a relatively deep water level, but it cannot exceed 1.7 meters. Small and medium-sized varieties are only suitable for a water depth of 20-60 cm. At the same time, lotus is very sensitive to water loss. In summer, if there is no water for 3 hours, the lotus leaves planted in the water tank will wilt. If there is no water for one day, the lotus leaves will burn and the flower buds will wither. Lotus is also very light-loving and needs a full-light environment during the growth period. Lotus is extremely intolerant of shade, and will show a strong tendency to phototropism when growing in semi-shade.

The smell of lotus

The fragrance of lotus is quite fresh, like the air in the mountains and forests, very elegant and indifferent. Except for the varieties with all male and female cores petalized or bubbled, most lotus varieties have different depths of fragrance. Lotus is an aquatic plant, and it likes relatively stable calm shallow water, lakes, marshes, and ponds, which are its suitable habitats. The amount of water required by lotus depends on its variety. Large varieties such as ancient lotus and red thousand leaves require a relatively deep water level, but it cannot exceed 1.7 meters. Small and medium varieties are only suitable for a water depth of 20-60 cm.

There are many types of lotus, which can be divided into two categories: ornamental and edible. Originally produced in tropical and temperate regions of Asia, China has records of cultivation as early as the Zhou Dynasty. The whole lotus is a treasure. Lotus roots and lotus seeds can be eaten, and lotus seeds, rhizomes, lotus nodes, lotus leaves, flowers and embryos of seeds can be used as medicine. Its character of emerging from mud without being stained is always praised by the world. "The lotus leaves are endless and green, and the lotus flowers are red in the sun" is a true portrayal of the beauty of lotus. The noble character of lotus "hollow inside and straight outside, without vines or branches, emerging from mud without being stained, washing in the clear water without being coquettish" has always been one of the themes of poets and writers to sing and paint.