The Temperate Database is in the process of being updated, with new records being added and old ones being checked and brought up to date where necessary. This record has not yet been checked and updated.

Common Name: American Water Lotus

General Information

Nelumbo lutea is a perennial plant that can grow up to 1.80 metres tall.
It is harvested from the wild for local use as a food and medicine

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

, ,

Range

Eastern N. America - Massachusetts to Minnesota, Nebraska and Louisiana.

Habitat

Mostly flood plains of major rivers in ponds, lakes, pools in marshes and swamps, and backwaters of reservoirs from sea level to 400 metres[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Habit	Perennial
Height	1.80 m
Pollinators	Insects, Beetles
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Requires a rich loam[] and a sunny position[]. Succeeds in most soils[]. Succeeds in water up to 0.6m deep[].
Plants are half-hardy[]. They should be hardy in the mild areas of Britain[].
One report says that the plant is almost extinct in the wild[], whilst another says that it is sometimes an aggressive, difficult-to-eradicate weed in ponds, lakes, and reservoirs[].
Grown as a food plant by the N. American Indians[], it has been proposed for commercial cultivation[].
The flowers are fragrant[].

Edible Uses

Root - cooked[, , , , ]. It is usually steeped in water prior to cooking in order to remove any bitterness[]. The root is rich in starch[], when baked it becomes sweet and mealy[, ], somewhat like a sweet potato[]. The root is usually harvested in the autumn and will store for several months[].
Leaves and young stems - cooked[, , , ].
Seed - raw or cooked[, , , , ]. A very agreeable taste[, ]. The seed can be dried, ground into a powder and used for making bread, thickening soups etc or can be eaten dry[, ]. The bitter tasting embryo is often removed. The half-ripe seed is said to be delicious raw or cooked, with a taste like chestnuts[]. The seed contains up to 19% protein[].
An edible oil can be extracted from the seed[].

Medicinal

The root is pounded into a pulp, either fresh or dried, and used as a poultice for many inflammatory diseases[].

Other Uses

The leaves are used as plates for eating food off[].

The oil obtained from the seeds is used as an ingredient in commercial cosmetic preparations as an emollient, humectant and sin conditioner[].
An extract of the seeds is used as an ingredient in commercial cosmetic preparations as an antimicrobial, antioxidant, astringent, emollient, hair and sin conditioner, skin protector[].
Various parts of the plant are used as ingredients in commercial cosmetic preparations as antioxidants, skin conditioners, viscosity controllers[].

Propagation

Seed - file the seed across its centre, being very careful not to damage the flesh of the seed, and soak in warm water, changing the water twice a day until signs of germination are seen, which should be within 3 - 4 weeks at 25°c. Plant in individual pots just covered in water and increase the depth as the plant grows.
Division in spring as the plant comes into growth. Be very careful, the plants deeply resent root disturbance[].