Flowers are gracious and are used to decorate houses for special occasions and parties. A soothing effect given by the sweet smell of flowers is irreplaceable. Moreover, There are flowers with a minimal fragrance. Flowers are the reproductive structures of a plant. Aquatic plants like Lotus water lily and water hyacinth produce flowers that float on water.
Lotus VS Water Lily
The main difference between Lotus and Water Lily is that Lotus emerge from the water and do not always float On the other hand water lily always float on the water surface. Water Lily leaves are waxier than lotus leaves. Water lilies have thick leaves whereas lotus has thin leaves. Water lily has pointed petals whereas lotus petals are rounded and the flower looks ruffle-like.
Lotus with large and exuberant flowers have a history intertwined with Indian culture. Petals are soft and smooth. This sacred flower is the country’s National flower Slow-flowing water and delta areas support lotus growth lotuses release thousands of seeds that reach the bottom of the pond. Only some seeds germinate. The sterile ones decompose.
Tropical species produce brightly colored flowers. Flowers in the cold region are pale. Freshwater ponds filled with this plant are a common sight in Asia. Water lilies are aquatic plants that inhabit temperate and tropical waters. Their rounded leaves float on the surface of the water. Petals are thicker than lotus petals and waxy.
Comparison Table Between Lotus and Water Lily
| Parameters of Comparision | Lotus | Water Lily |
| Fragrance | Subtle | Strong |
| Character | Diurnal | Diurnal or Nocturnal |
| Colors | Blue, Purple, White, Pink, Yellow | Shades of pink, red, orange, yellow, and white |
| Petals | Rounded | Pointed |
| Use | Sacred flower | Ornamental flower |
What is Lotus?
The sacred flower of India, Lotus inhabits Ponds, Lakes, and Streams in India. Lotus propagate through rhizomes, buds, and seeds. The seeds dispersed from the flower reach the bottom of the water body and remain dormant. Seeds remain dormant throughout the dry period. Water breaks the seed open. Once open, they rehydrate and germinate.
Seeds of Lotus have an incredibly long period of viability They remain fertile for about 1300 years. The hardness of lotus seeds made the Chinese consider them a symbol of longevity. Lotuses are prevalent throughout India, China, Sri Lanka, Some parts of Australia, and East Asia. The Lotus species in Russia is present in the Caspian sea.
Seeds are Edible and possess medicinal qualities. Lotus roots are buried in the soil while the other plant parts float in water. They grow from April to September and require a long light period. Rhizomes can be planted in the soil during early summer. Advancement in tissue culture has proven to be a promising technology for lotus propagation.
Manual harvesting of the flower is done. Buds are collected before they bloom. Leaves and flowers are collected after three months of planting. White, pink, and yellow-colored flowers are available. Lotus flowers have a prominent place in Hindu poojas. Lotus leaves are used for wrapping purposes in Indian villages. Artists use inks made from lotus flowers to create abstract paintings.
What is Water Lily?
Water lilies belong to the order Nymphaeales. Mucilage hairs are present in the stem. The middle of the stem is hollow. Spiral leaves are arranged in whorls. The bisexual, solitary flowers have pointed petals. Most of them undergo self-fertilization. In some cases, pollination occurs. Bees, flies, or beetles act as pollinating agents.
The aggregate nuts in the water lily fruit give rise to spongy seeds. The hollow stems help the plant to float giving it a buoyant ability. Aerenchyma cells make up the major part of the stem. Water lilies are capable of growing in ponds, streams, and lakes. The color of the flower ranges from purple to white.
Horticulturists and Gardeners prefer to grow water lilies in their gardens because of their immense beauty. Small pots or tanks filled with water are ideal containers for growing. A layer of soil helps the plant to Anchorage. Water lilies are viewed as invasive species in some countries. They occupy the entire water body.
Fishing and other activities become hard on ponds occupied by water lilies. Using herbicides or cutting the top growth can help control them. In Sangam Tamil literature Water lilies symbolize the grief of separation. Water lily served as the inspiration for the exquisite masterpiece by Claude Monet. Their lush green leaves spread on the surface of the water are pleasing to gaze at.
Main Differences Between Lotus and Water Lily
- Lotus has a subtle fragrance. Water Lily smells strong. The fragrance is stronger at the onset of blooming and fades away
- Lotus flowers last for a few days. Once the petals wither, the seed pod continues to grow. On the other hand, Waterlilies last for about two weeks.
- Lotus stem emerges taller than the water lily stem outside the water surface. Whereas water lily grows to a height of 2 to 5 feet
- Lotus requires high care and a high amount of fertilizers compared to water lilies. Water lily is simple to care for.
- A large number of leaf color variants are not available in Lotus. Water lily leaves differ in color from one species to other
Conclusion
Lotus and water lily are commonly mistaken. They are hard for beginners to differentiate. They are preferred for their glorious flowers. Lotus plays a unique role in Hindu traditions. Water lily lures water gardeners because they are both exquisite and low maintenance. Various options of color are another advantage of water lilies over a lotus.
Scientists initially thought of Lotus as a Water lily. But it was found that lotus differs from water lilies in various characters. Water lilies serve as the birth flower of people born under the sun sign Pisces. Painters and poets have immortalized Waterlilies with art. Phytochemicals in Lotus decrease inflammation, induce apoptosis of cancer cells and reduce blood glucose level.
References
- https://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/la036369u
- https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-019-1852-5