Fabaceae / Papilionaceae

Nelumbonaceae
Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn.
English name: Lotus.
Local name: Sindhi-Babban, Urdu-Kanwal.
Description:
An aquatic, perennial freshwater herb growing in shallow water with rhizomes in mud.
Leaves very broad and rounded usually wavy at the edges, floating or somewhat raised
above the surface of water. Flower color varying from snow white to light pink to almost red.
Fruit shower-head shaped, many seeded, seeds dark brown when ripe. Propagates by
seeds or rhizomes. The species usually disappear during the winter season.
Flowering Period:
June to September.
Habitat:
Common species of freshwater lakes and pond.
Uses:
The flowers, seeds, young leaves, and rhizomes (locally
known as “Beh”) are all edible, various parts of it are also used
in traditional Asian herbal medicine, flower is used for
cholera, diarrhea, vomiting and intermittent fevers and the
plant is also used for intra-uterine growth retardation,
diarrhea, dysentery, and skin darkening. Cultivated as a crop
in Sindh.
Distribution:
North Africa to Pakistan, India and Australia.
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