Ancient Chinese writers believed that the lotus represented holy and elegant, so it often appeared in ancient Chinese poetry. In the Chinese garden of the Huntington Library, I saw lotus flowers in full bloom with antique Chinese-style buildings in the background. Under the severe pandemic situation and the chaos of the world, I fully enjoyed the peaceful, poetic and artistic atmosphere.
中國古代的文學家認為蓮花(荷花)聖潔高雅，所以在古代詩詞歌賦，經常會有歌頌蓮花(荷花)的篇章。在亨廷頓圖書館的中國花園裏，看到正盛開著的蓮花(荷花)，襯著古色古香的中國風味建築，在疫情嚴峻世界紛亂的情況下，實在很享受這寧靜及詩琴畫意的氛圍。我在網路上碰巧看到一個節目，介紹一個利用蓮花各個部位來做出佳餚的故事，愛蓮成吃 中年大叔翻轉偏鄉 第338集《進擊的台灣》part3｜巫嘉芬。讓我更加清楚每個部位長什麼樣，以及它的功能，在此紀錄一下。
Photo Date: 2020.08.06 Location: The Hungtington Library
Notes 筆記
- Nelumbo nucifera, also known as sacred lotus, Indian lotus, or simply lotus, is one of two extant species of aquatic plant in the family Nelumbonaceae. The common name sacred lotus is in reference to the sacred and symbolic status the flower holds in Buddhism and Hinduism. Genus name comes from the Sinhalese name. Specific epithet means bearing nuts.It is native to Asia and Australia.
- It is the national flower of India and Vietnam.
- This is a marginal aquatic perennial that features rounded, parasol-like, upward-cupped, waxy green leaves (to 2’ across) that appear above the water on long petioles which attach at the middle of the leaf underside (peltate). Large, cupped, fragrant, pink or white flowers (8-12” diameter) appear in summer on stiff stems above the foliage. Each flower blooms for about three days, opening in the morning and closing at night each day. Flowers are followed by nut-like fruits that are imbedded in the flat surface of a turbinate (inversely conical) receptacle (2-3” diameter) which resembles the shape of a watering can rose.
- The rhizomes of lotus are consumed as a vegetable in Asian countries, extensively in China and Japan: sold whole or in cut pieces, fresh, frozen, or canned. They are fried or cooked mostly in soups, soaked in syrup or pickled in vinegar. Rhizomes contain high amounts of starch which have been compared with maize and potato starch.
- Lotus flowers, seeds, young leaves and rhizomes can be eaten. Petals, leaves and rhizome can be eaten raw but there is a risk of parasite transmission. Different parts of lotus are also used in traditional East Asian herbal medicine. Lotus seeds, stems, leaves, rhizomes can all be used as folk medicine.
- Nelumbo nucifera is the species of lotus sacred to both Hindus and Buddhists. In Asian art a lotus throne is a stylized lotus flower used as the seat or base for a figure. It is the normal pedestal for divine figures in Buddhist art and Hindu art. Lotus flowers are also often held by figures.
- Nelumbo nucifera shows high potential for usage in wastewater treatment removing polluting compounds and heavy metals.
- 蓮又稱荷、荷花、蓮花，古稱芙蓉、菡萏、芙蕖、聖蓮、印度蓮或簡稱蓮花，是蓮科現存兩種水生植物之一。神聖蓮花的俗名指的是這種花在佛教和印度教中的神聖和象徵地位。屬名來自於僧伽羅語名稱。種小名意為結出堅果。它原產於亞洲和澳大利亞。
- 它是印度和越南的國花。
- 這是一種邊緣水生多年生植物，其特徵是圓形、陽傘狀、向上杯狀、蠟質綠色葉子（直徑達 2 英尺），長葉柄露出水面，葉柄附著在葉子下側（盾狀）的中間。夏季，葉子上方的硬莖上會長出大而杯狀的芳香粉紅色或白色花朵（直徑 8-12 英吋）。每朵花的花期約三天，每天早晨開放，晚上閉合。花後會結出堅果狀的果實，這些果實嵌在圓錐形（倒圓錐形）的花托（直徑 2-3 英吋）的平面上，類似於噴壺玫瑰的形狀。
- 蓮花的根莖(蓮藕)在許多亞洲國家拿來當作蔬菜用，在中國和日本都很普遍，以新鮮，冷凍或罐裝的形式整個或切塊出售。它們可油炸、用在湯中，用糖漿浸泡或用醋醃製。蓮藕含有大量的澱粉，與玉米和馬鈴薯澱粉可相較。
- 蓮的地下莖是蓮藕，葉是荷葉，果實是蓮蓬，種子為蓮子。蓮的花、種子、嫩葉和根莖都可以食用；花瓣、荷葉和藕可以生吃但有寄生蟲的風險。蓮的不同部分也用在傳統東亞的草藥中。蓮子、蓮子芯（胚芽）、蓮葉、蓮房、雄蕊和蓮梗都可以入藥。
- 蓮花對印度教徒和佛教徒來說都是神聖的。在亞洲的藝術中，蓮花寶座常用來當作塑像的座椅或底座。它常是佛教藝術和印度教藝術中神像的基座，蓮花也經常被人物塑像捧著。蓮花在印度教中是重要的宗教符號，意涵包括美麗、端莊、潔淨。兩腳盤起的跏趺坐又稱為蓮花坐。佛教認為蓮花露在淤泥之上、葉子不沾水，表現的是佛教追求的不受俗世的慾望沾染。蓮花是佛門八寶之一。
- 蓮花在廢水處理中具有去除污染物和重金屬的潛力。“蓮花效應”是指蓮葉表面具有超疏水性以及自潔的特性。在東方文化裡，蓮花是純淨的象徵。雖然，蓮花喜歡生長在泥濘的溼地，但其葉子和花仍保持乾淨，這就是自潔的效果。
- 荷與蓮歷來被視為純潔正直的象徵，是詩人墨客歌詠的對象。而且由於「荷」與「和」「合」諧音，「蓮」與「廉」諧音，歷代書畫藝術家與工藝美術家在創作中，常以「荷」「蓮」入畫或作為工藝品的雕飾，寓意「和為貴」「合意」「廉潔」等內涵。
References 參考資料
- Wikipedia: Nelumbo nucifera
- Missouri Botanical Garden: Nelumbo nucifera
- 維基百科: 蓮
Plants Posts 植物的帖子