Lotus (Nelumbo of Nymphaeaceae)
Flowers bloom in the early morning in summer and autumn, with few colors, including lotus seeds and lotus leaves. The root is lotus root, the petiole is prickly and the primary leaves are very small. They float on the water and are called "floating leaves". After three or four leaves grow, the leaves that grow again are called "vertical leaves". The leaves are big, round and light green. They stand on the water with flowers and dance with the wind, which not only makes them sway. Lotus is not only ornamental, but also often used as food and medicine. It is a crop with high economic value. Fresh lotus root can be used to make tea, which has the effects of clearing away heat and relieving summer heat, promoting blood circulation and stopping bleeding.
Lotus root is a nutritious and healthy vegetable, which contains protein, fat, sugar, amino acids, vitamins and minerals. Has the effects of promoting blood circulation, removing blood stasis, relieving fever, cooling blood and moistening stomach. There are many cooking methods, such as frying, boiling, frying, stewing soup, cold salad, etc., and they can also be processed into lotus root powder to make tea or thicken.
Lotus seeds are usually regarded as treasures, rich in protein, starch and various vitamins. They can strengthen the stomach and spleen, nourish the heart and kidney, clear away heat and quench thirst, and improve drug allergy. They are cool sacred products in summer and can be cooked into salty and sweet delicacies. Shen Si soup and lotus seed tremella soup are common.
Lotus plumule (the green bud in the middle of lotus seeds) tastes bitter and can be used to make tea, which has the effects of clearing away heat, calming the nerves and lowering blood pressure. Lotus leaves have the functions of promoting blood circulation, removing blood stasis, relieving diarrhea and detoxifying, and are often used to make lotus leaf rice. In addition to stopping bleeding and diarrhea, lotus is also a good material for flower arrangement and decoration after drying. Lotus is really full of treasures and has contributed a lot to mankind.
Water lily (Nymphaeaceae)
In addition to the cold climate, flowers bloom almost all year round, with many colors and small flowers, but the flowering time varies with varieties. There are no lotus seeds, the rhizome is bulbous, similar to taro, the petiole is spineless, long and soft, the leaves are heart-shaped and dark green, and usually stick to the water or float slightly on the water because of crowding.
Water lilies are often the leading role in the scenery of schools, parks, courtyards and ponds, and they are also the darling of the art of flower arrangement. A beautiful and intoxicating "water lily" on the desk exudes its elegant fragrance, which always makes people feel Xu Ya-sheng and forget the hard work and boredom of the day.
There are many varieties of water lilies, and flower farmers like to make lotus seed tea with the unique fragrance of water lilies or mother lilies. When water lilies are in full bloom, they naturally give off bursts of fragrance, attracting swarms of bees. Sweet nectar often intoxicates bees, and some bees are buried at the bottom of flowers because their wings are wet with nectar after a full meal.
Lotus tea is rich in fiber, crude fat and protein. "Compendium of Materia Medica" records that lotus is sweet and warm, which can replenish middle energizer, quench thirst and clear heat, and broaden the mind. Drinking often makes people happy. Flowers drenched by rain are not suitable for making tea. All the stems picked must be cut off. In order to remove the bitter taste, the outermost eight petals must be removed and then dried. This is the dried lotus flower used for making tea.
Put a dried flower in a pot, add 350 CC of hot water and brew for three to five minutes (you can add a little sugar as needed) before drinking. Suitable for both cold and heat, each lotus flower can be brewed five to six times in a row. Throw away the lotus that has been soaked in tea, because the shower head is rich in nectar. Put it in your mouth and suck out these essences, which will make you feel thick and sweet, overflowing between your teeth and cheeks.
Watching lotus flowers, eating lotus seeds and drinking lotus tea are all cool enjoyment in hot summer. When you use your sense of smell to infect the blooming fragrance of lotus seeds and your sense of taste to touch the sweetness and freshness of lotus seeds, have you ever imagined that farmers are working hard in the scorching sun and biting cold wind and tasting these elegant and unique human feasts with a grateful heart? I believe the beauty in your eyes will be more beautiful, and the food in your mouth will be sweet to your heart.
These two plants belong to two different genera, but both belong to the same Nymphaeaceae. However, because the carpel of lotus is free, it is buried in the flower tube; Some carpels of Nymphaeaceae plants are synbiotic and not buried in flower tubes. Apart from the characteristics of carpels, the main difference in identification is that the leaves of lotus are out of water, while the leaves of water lilies are floating in water. In fact, lotus leaves are not completely out of water. At first, leaves were floating leaves. After growing three or four leaves, the new leaves are upright leaves that protrude out of the water. The petiole can be 1-2m long. The petiole of water lily is long and soft, which can keep floating with the adjustment of water level. Lotus is pink in color, and some are pure white, but it is rare. Lotus is the only genus in the world, there are two kinds; Taiwan Province Province is unique. There are about 8 genera and 80 species of Nymphaeaceae in the world, and there are 2 species of Nymphaeaceae in Taiwan Province Province, but they may all be extinct. Lotus is an earlier name, and its seed is called "lotus seed", and later lotus is called "lotus". There are many other nicknames, such as lotus, lotus, water lotus, water lotus, grass lotus, gentleman flower and so on. It can be seen that lotus is closely related to people's lives.
Lotus belongs to Nymphaeaceae in biological classification. There are only two kinds in the world, but there are many strains. There are four famous agricultural lotus lines in Taiwan Province Province, and there are even more horticultural varieties. In fact, apart from the well-known lotus root and lotus seed, China people who make good use of herbs are the first people who make good use of lotus flowers in the world. For Chinese medicine, lotus can be divided into ten parts, namely lotus, lotus leaf, lotus stem, lotus root, lotus seed, lotus heart, lotus root, lotus root knot and so on. The efficacy is as follows: scented tea can dispel summer heat and nourish skin; Lotus leaf can also clear away heat and relieve summer heat, remove blood stasis and stop bleeding; Lotus stems can cure summer heat, chest tightness and women's leucorrhea; Lotus root can prevent miscarriage and diarrhea; Lotus leaf can dissipate blood stasis and stop bleeding; Lotus seed is a top-grade tonic for invigorating spleen and kidney; Lotus root can clear heart and kidney to stop bleeding; Lotus root can clear fire and cure hematemesis; Lotus root can strengthen the spleen, stimulate appetite and promote granulation; Lotus root can stop bleeding and remove blood stasis. From head to toe, from flowering to fruiting, there is almost no unusable part of the lotus. No wonder some people praised it as "full of treasures". Petals can be divided into single petals and double petals; Colors are white, red, yellow and various variegated colors; Petals are round and pointed.