US EPA

7852919 

Journal Article 

Yellow Lotus 

Walwyn, M 

2021 

26 

6 

39-39 

There are two so-named natives of lotus in Canada. One in southern British Columbia, and the other near Lake Erie in southernmost Ontario. The one in British Columbia is the seaside bird's-foot lotus (Lotus formosissimus). Endangered in Canada, this multi-stemmed perennial herb is limited to the unique and fascinating Garry Oak ecosystems of southeastern Vancouver Island. Its Latin binomial name notwithstanding, the pretty and appealing plant is not a true lotus; it is a lowly legume. Ontario's plant, on the other hand, is the yellow or American lotus (Nelumbo lutea), a close relation to the Indian lotus (N. nucifera) found throughout the Far and Middle East, associated with Hinduism, Buddhism and other religions. Over time, the yellow lotus and numerous offshoot cultivars have taken on another domestic role: as a decorative addition to gardens and yards. This role is not surprising, given the flower's ephemeral beauty, but gardeners must beware. 

Legumes; Cultivars; Buddhism; Gardens & gardening