Nelumbo lutea
american lotus, iotus, yellow lotus, water-chinquapin, pond-nut, sacred bean, water chinquapin, water chinkapin
Family
Nelumbonaceae
Leaf Arrangement
alternate
Leaf Attachment
petiolate
Leaf Margin
entire
Leaf Type
simple
Leaf Shape
orbicular, peltate
Growth Form
forb, emergent aquatic, aquatic
Flower Color
yellow
Flower Petals
many
Flower Month
May - September
Height (meters)
0.0 - 0.2
Milky Sap
No
Armed/Unarmed
Unarmed
Origin
native
Lifespan
perennial
Growing Season
Warm season
Wetland Class
OBL
Wetland Coefficient of Conservatism
6
Prairie Coefficient of Conservatism
6
Field Characters
Large round leaves held above water, large yellow magnolia like flowers. Leaf round, peltate, entire (no cleft), lies flat on water. 15 yellow petals.
Cultural Information
Seeds average approximately 37,000/lb.
Natural History
Found scattered or locally frequent over the eastern half of Texas south to Aransas and the western half of Louisiana. It is reported from Alabama, Mississippi, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Texas, and Louisiana (USDA 1998).
Habitat
Quiet water of ponds and sluggish streams, pools, estuaries.