Nelumbo lutea
Details Top
| Internal ID | UUID643ff680e158c760812821 |
| Scientific name | Nelumbo lutea |
| Authority | Pers. |
| First published in | Syn. Pl. 2: 92 (1806) |
Ethnobotanical Use Top
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Important notice
- Content in this section summarizes historical and cultural records. It is not medical advice.
- Do not use plants for self-treatment. Safety, efficacy, and appropriate use are not established here.
- Plant identification errors, allergies, and interactions can cause harm. Consult qualified professionals for health questions.
- Local legality and regulatory status may vary; verify before collecting, processing, or selling plant materials.
Nelumbo lutea, the American lotus, is remembered in Native North American herbal practice as a calming nervine and gynecologic tonic. In the eastern Woodlands, medicine people prepared a gentle cold infusion of the dried seeds for stomach upset and nervous tension. Similar preparations were used by Mississippi River peoples as a soothing “women’s medicine” after childbirth, and in the Ozarks Appalachian infusions of the seeds served as a calming tonic for irritability and insomnia (Moerman, 1998; Kavasch, 1979; Moerman, 1986). Over a vast interior from the Midwest to the Gulf Coast, pods and seeds were also eaten as food and carried as traveler’s provisions, a pattern noted by early ethnographers in the 19th and early 20th centuries (Moerman, 1998; Swanton, 1928; Fowles, 2004). These soothing uses of the seed infusion are consistent with the plant’s later reputation in Chinese and East Asian herbal medicine (Zhao et al., 2005).
For a practical dose, cover 1 tablespoon of roughly crushed dried Nelumbo lutea seeds with 1 cup of cool water in a jar, stir, and let sit at room temperature for 6–8 hours. Strain and sip 1/2 to 1 cup over 10–12 hours. Do not exceed 2 cups per day. No specific contraindications are recorded for Nelumbo lutea seeds in the cited ethnographies; however, avoid during pregnancy unless instructed by a qualified practitioner.
Well-established seed constituents include the isoquinoline alkaloids liensinine, neferine, and nuciferine, together with flavonoids such as quercetin and kaempferol, all detected in seed extracts (Zhang et al., 2012; Liu et al., 2016). These compounds plausibly underlie the calming and gastrointestinal-relaxing effects reported in traditional infusions. While clinical trials are limited, modern research continues to explore the pharmacology of lotus seed alkaloids in vitro and in animals, and North American wild-harvested N. lutea seeds remain available through specialty seed and herbal suppliers, alongside living rhizomes for ornamental and ecological restoration plantings (McKetta & Noe, 1993).
General Uses Top
Suggest a correction!Common products:
Rhizomes (fleshy underground stems) and seeds are the primary harvested parts. Market forms include sliced, fresh rhizomes similar in texture to celery and lotus root; sliced or wafer‑like crisps that are dried, seasoned, and fried; and popped or roasted seeds. The rhizome flesh is valued for its high starch content and crisp texture.
Food and beverages (non-medicinal):
Rhizomes are used as a fresh vegetable: sliced, battered and fried, or incorporated into soups and stir‑fries. Seeds are consumed raw, toasted, popped (producing a popcorn‑like snack), or ground into flour for baking. These uses are supported by Native American ethnobotanical documentation and modern commercial production records for the species.
Properties relevant to use:
Rhizomes contain abundant starch granules stored in parenchyma tissue, conferring a firm, starchy texture suitable for slicing and frying. Seeds are oleaginous and accumulate triacylglycerols; their oil profile has been analyzed and reported to be dominated by linoleic and oleic acids, with measured iodine values around 132 and saponification values around 190, indicating a composition suitable for edible oil applications. The roasted/fffdf seed flavor is characterized by a nut‑like aroma developed during Maillard reactions in high‑temperature drying or toasting.
Wood and fiber:
Aquatic emergent habit; no timber or conventional bast/leaf fiber uses are documented for Nelumbo lutea in reliable sources.
Industrial and craft applications:
No documented industrial uses such as tannins, dyes, gums, or fiber products are reported in the taxa‑specific literature; however, seed oil composition data imply edible use and potentially small‑scale oil milling.
Colorants and tanning:
No reliable taxon‑specific references document dye, ink, or tannin extraction from Nelumbo lutea.
Fragrance and cosmetics:
No fragrance, essential oil, or cosmetic uses are documented for this species in the cited literature.
Sustainability and sourcing:
As a wetland obligate native of North America, wild harvesting can affect local populations and aquatic habitat; commercial supply is therefore primarily from cultivated ponds and marshes. There are no taxa‑specific regulations identified for the plant or its products; edible rhizome and seed uses comply with standard domestic food handling and labeling norms.
Synonyms Top
| Scientific name | Authority | First published in |
|---|---|---|
| Nelumbo pentapetala | Fernald | Rhodora 36: 23 (1934) |
| Nelumbium codophyllum | Raf. | Fl. Ludov. : 22 (1817) |
| Nelumbium luteum | Willd. | Sp. Pl., ed. 4 , 2: 1259 (1799) |
| Nelumbium jamaicense | DC. | Syst. Nat. 2: 41 (1821) |
| Nelumbo nucifera subsp. lutea | (Willd.) T.Borsch & Barthlott | Beitr. Biol. Pflanzen 68: 443 (1994 publ. 1996) |
| Nelumbium reniforme | Willd. | Sp. Pl., ed. 4 , 2: 1260 (1799) |
| Nelumbium pentapetalum | Willd. | Sp. Pl., ed. 4 , 2: 1259 (1799) |
| Nelumbo nucifera var. lutea | Kuntze | Revis. Gen. Pl. 1: 12 (1891) |
| Cyamus flavicomus | Salisb. | Ann. Bot. [König & Sims]. 2(1): 75. 1805 [1 Jun (?) 1805] |
| Cyamus luteus | (Willd.) Nutt. | Gen. N. Amer. Pl. [Nuttall]. 2: 25. 1818 [14 Jul 1818] |
| Cyamus mysticus | Salisb. | Ann. Bot. [König & Sims]. 2(1): 75. 1805 [1 Jun (?) 1805] |
| Cyamus nelumbo | Sm. | Exot. Bot. i. (1806) 59. t. 31. |
| Cyamus pentapetalus | (Walter) Pursh | Fl. Amer. Sept. (Pursh) 2: 398. 1813 [Dec 1813] |
| Cyamus reniformis | Pursh | Fl. Amer. Sept. (Pursh) 2: 398. 1813 [Dec 1813] |
| Nymphaea pentapetala | Walter | Fl. Carol. : 155 (1788) |
Common names Top
Add a new one! Suggest a correction!| Language | Common/alternative name |
|---|---|
| English | volee |
| English | volée |
| English | american lotus |
| English | water-chinquapin |
| English | yellow lotus |
| Spanish | loto americano |
| Arabic | نيلم أصفر |
| Bulgarian | жълт лотос |
| Czech | lotos žlutý |
| German | amerikanische lotosblume |
| German | amerikanischer lotos |
| Persian | نلومبو لوتئا |
| Finnish | amerikanlootus |
| French | lotus d'amérique |
| French | lotus jaune |
| French | lotus jaune d'amérique |
| Hebrew | נלומבו צהוב |
| Croatian | američki lotos |
| Upper Sorbian | ameriska lotoska |
| Japanese | キバナハス |
| Japanese | 黄花蓮 |
| Lithuanian | geltonasis lotosas |
| Malayalam | നെലംബോ ലൂട്ടിയ |
| Marathi | अमेरिकन कमळ |
| Norwegian Bokmål | amerikansk lotus |
| Punjab | پیلا کنول |
| Russian | Лотос жёлтый |
| Russian | Лотос американский |
| Swedish | amerikansk lotus |
| Vietnamese | sen trắng |
| Chinese | 美国莲 |
| Chinese | 美洲黃蓮 |
| Chinese | 黃蓮花 |
| Chinese | 黄莲花 |
| Chinese | 美國蓮 |
| Chinese | 黃蓮 |
| Chinese | 美国黄莲 |
| Chinese | 黄莲 |
| Chinese | 美洲黄莲 |
Germination/Propagation Top
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No germination or propagation data was added yet.
Distribution (via POWO/KEW) Top
Legend for the distribution data:
- Doubtful data
- Extinct
- Introduced
- Native
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Northern America click to expand
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Eastern Canada
- Ontario
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Mexico
- Mexico Gulf
- Mexico Northeast
- Mexico Southeast
- Mexico Southwest
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North-central U.S.A.
- Illinois
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Minnesota
- Missouri
- Nebraska
- Oklahoma
- Wisconsin
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Northeastern U.S.A.
- Connecticut
- Indiana
- Maine
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- New Jersey
- New York
- Ohio
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- West Virginia
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South-central U.S.A.
- Texas
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Southeastern U.S.A.
- Alabama
- Arkansas
- Delaware
- District Of Columbia
- Florida
- Georgia
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maryland
- Mississippi
- North Carolina
- South Carolina
- Tennessee
- Virginia
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Eastern Canada
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Southern America click to expand
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Caribbean
- Cuba
- Dominican Republic
- Haiti
- Jamaica
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Western South America
- Colombia
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Caribbean
Links to other databases Top
Suggest others/fix!| Database | ID/link to page |
|---|---|
| World Flora Online | wfo-0000382419 |
| Florida Plant Atlas | 2954 |
| Flora of Alabama | 2692 |
| Canadensys | 6702 |
| USDA Plants | NELU |
| Tropicos | 22600235 |
| KEW | urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:605419-1 |
| The Plant List | kew-2384987 |
| Missouri Botanical Garden | 282906 |
| PFAF | Nelumbo lutea |
| Open Tree Of Life | 532278 |
| NCBI Taxonomy | 4431 |
| Nature Serve | 2.135254 |
| IUCN Red List | 169072 |
| IPNI | 605419-1 |
| iNaturalist | 84160 |
| GBIF | 2882453 |
| Freebase | /m/03_mpc |
| WisFlora | 4332 |
| EPPO | NELLU |
| EOL | 596459 |
| Calflora (Californian flora) | 9166 |
| USDA GRIN | 320239 |
| Wikipedia | Nelumbo_lutea |
| PaleoBotany | 86132 |
Genomes (via NCBI) Top
Below is displayed the reference genome only!
If you wish to browse all genomes for this plant click here.
If you wish to browse all genomes for this plant click here.
| Accession | Assembly | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Level | Submitter | Released | Coverage | Size | |
| GCA_056320005.1 | American lotus-T2T | Complete Genome | Wuhan Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences | 2026-03-25 | 100 | 799.62 Mb |
Scientific Literature Top
Below are displayed the latest 15 articles published in PMC (PubMed Central®) and other sources (DOI number only)!
If you wish to see all the related articles click here.
If you wish to see all the related articles click here.
| Title | Authors | Publication | Released | IDs | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Commodity risk assessment of Ligustrum ovalifolium and Ligustrum vulgare plants from the UK | Bragard C, Baptista P, Chatzivassiliou E, Di Serio F, Jaques Miret JA, Justesen AF, MacLeod A, Magnusson CS, Milonas P, Navas‐Cortes JA, Parnell S, Potting R, Reignault PL, Stefani E, Thulke H, Van der Werf W, Civera AV, Yuen J, Zappalà L, Battisti A, Mas H, Rigling D, Faccoli M, Mikulová A, Mosbach‐Schulz O, Stergulc F, Streissl F, Gonthier P | EFSA J | 07-Mar-2024 |
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| NnARF17 and NnARF18 from lotus promote root formation and modulate stress tolerance in transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana | Libao C, Shiting L, Chen Z, Shuyan L | BMC Plant Biol | 02-Mar-2024 |
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| Lotus (Nelumbo nucifera): a multidisciplinary review of its cultural, ecological, and nutraceutical significance | Yang H, He S, Feng Q, Liu Z, Xia S, Zhou Q, Wu Z, Zhang Y | Bioresour Bioprocess | 27-Jan-2024 |
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| The bZIP Transcription Factors in Current Jasmine Genomes: Identification, Characterization, Evolution and Expressions | Zhao K, Luo X, Shen M, Lei W, Lin S, Lin Y, Sun H, Ahmad S, Wang G, Liu ZJ | Int J Mol Sci | 29-Dec-2023 |
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| Impacts of Diet on Reproductive Performance of Captive American Alligators (Alligator mississippiensis) | Joanen T, Mikolajczyk AP, Staton M, Kaplan J, Holmes WE, Zappi ME | Animals (Basel) | 08-Dec-2023 |
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| Exploring Plants with Flowers: From Therapeutic Nutritional Benefits to Innovative Sustainable Uses | Coyago-Cruz E, Moya M, Méndez G, Villacís M, Rojas-Silva P, Corell M, Mapelli-Brahm P, Vicario IM, Meléndez-Martínez AJ | Foods | 08-Nov-2023 |
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| Analysis of bZIP gene family in lotus (Nelumbo) and functional study of NnbZIP36 in regulating anthocyanin synthesis | Zhou P, Li J, Jiang H, Jin Q, Wang Y, Xu Y | BMC Plant Biol | 15-Sep-2023 |
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| Commodity risk assessment of Acer platanoides plants from the UK | Bragard C, Baptista P, Chatzivassiliou E, Di Serio F, Jaques Miret JA, Justesen AF, MacLeod A, Magnusson CS, Milonas P, Navas‐Cortes JA, Parnell S, Potting R, Reignault PL, Stefani E, Thulke H, Van der Werf W, Vicent Civera A, Yuen J, Zappalà L, Battisti A, Mas H, Rigling D, Faccoli M, Gardi C, Iacopetti G, Mikulová A, Mosbach‐Schulz O, Stergulc F, Streissl F, Gonthier P | EFSA J | 06-Jul-2023 |
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| Commodity risk assessment of Acer campestre plants from the UK | Bragard C, Baptista P, Chatzivassiliou E, Di Serio F, Jaques Miret JA, Justesen AF, MacLeod A, Magnusson CS, Milonas P, Navas‐Cortes JA, Parnell S, Potting R, Reignault PL, Stefani E, Thulke H, Van der Werf W, Vicent Civera A, Yuen J, Zappalà L, Battisti A, Mas H, Rigling D, Faccoli M, Gardi C, Iacopetti G, Mikulová A, Mosbach‐Schulz O, Stergulc F, Streissl F, Gonthier P | EFSA J | 06-Jul-2023 |
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| Commodity risk assessment of Acer palmatum plants from the UK | Bragard C, Baptista P, Chatzivassiliou E, Di Serio F, Jaques Miret JA, Justesen AF, MacLeod A, Magnusson CS, Milonas P, Navas‐Cortes JA, Parnell S, Potting R, Reignault PL, Stefani E, Thulke H, Van der Werf W, Vicent Civera A, Yuen J, Zappalà L, Battisti A, Mas H, Rigling D, Faccoli M, Gardi C, Iacopetti G, Mikulová A, Mosbach‐Schulz O, Stergulc F, Streissl F, Gonthier P | EFSA J | 06-Jul-2023 |
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| Commodity risk assessment of Acer pseudoplatanus plants from the UK | Bragard C, Baptista P, Chatzivassiliou E, Di Serio F, Jaques Miret JA, Justesen AF, MacLeod A, Magnusson CS, Milonas P, Navas‐Cortes JA, Parnell S, Potting R, Reignault PL, Stefani E, Thulke H, Van der Werf W, Vicent Civera A, Yuen J, Zappalà L, Battisti A, Mas H, Rigling D, Faccoli M, Gardi C, Iacopetti G, Mikulová A, Mosbach‐Schulz O, Stergulc F, Streissl F, Gonthier P | EFSA J | 06-Jul-2023 |
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| Transcription factor NnMYB5 controls petal color by regulating GLUTATHIONE S-TRANSFERASE2 in Nelumbo nucifera | Liu J, Wang Y, Deng X, Zhang M, Sun H, Gao L, Song H, Xin J, Ming R, Yang D, Yang M | Plant Physiol | 22-Jun-2023 |
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| Analysis of Floral Color Differences between Different Ecological Conditions of Clematis tangutica (Maxim.) Korsh | Guo X, Wang G, Li J, Li J, Sun X | Molecules | 03-Jan-2023 |
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| A lotus by any other color: Gene regulation divergence in lotus petal development | Lanctot A | Plant Physiol | 26-Dec-2022 |
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| Complete chloroplast genomes of 11 Sabia samples: Genomic features, comparative analysis, and phylogenetic relationship | Chen Q, Chen C, Wang B, Wang Z, Xu W, Huang Y, Sun Q | Front Plant Sci | 16-Dec-2022 |
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Phytochemical Profile Top
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Below are displayed the proven (via scientific papers) natural compounds!
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Collections Top
| In private collections | 0 |
| In public collections | 0 |