# American lotus (*Nelumbo lutea*) The American lotus is a beautiful flower that floats on water. Its large, round leaves and bright yellow flowers make it look like a big, happy sun in the water! - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 7 - **Habitat:** Wetlands ![American lotus](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Nelumbo_lutea.jpg&width=800) Photo: liz west from Boxborough, MA, CC BY 2.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Nelumbo_lutea.jpg) ## Appearance The American lotus has large, circular, blue-green leaves, some floating on water, others rising majestically above on tall stalks. Its vibrant, pale yellow flowers, often up to 10 inches wide, emerge from the water with a prominent, cone-shaped seed pod at their center. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Proteales - **Family:** Nelumbonaceae - **Genus:** Nelumbo ## Interesting facts - Each beautiful flower lasts only three days. - Fish and frogs hide beneath its big leaves! - Its crunchy roots are a tasty snack! - The giant leaves can be over two feet wide! ## Special abilities - **Self-Cleaning Superhero:** American lotus has superhydrophobic leaves that make water roll off, carrying dirt and dust with it, keeping them spotless. - **Flower Furnace:** American lotus can generate its own heat, warming its flowers to attract specific pollinating beetles, especially on cool nights. - **Timeless Seeds:** American lotus produces seeds that can remain viable for hundreds, even over a thousand, years, waiting for ideal conditions to sprout. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 60-200 cm - **Spread:** 100-300 cm - **Flower Size:** 10-25 cm - **Bloom Season:** Summer (July-September) - **Edible:** Yes - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Muskrat](https://www.snappit.app/explore/muskrat) (*Ondatra zibethicus*) — Eats rhizomes and seeds. - **Pollinates:** Honey bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Collects pollen from flowers. - **Eaten by:** [Elk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/elk) (*Cervus canadensis*) — Graze on leaves and stems. - **Shelter:** [Bluegill](https://www.snappit.app/explore/bluegill) (*Lepomis macrochirus*) — Hides from predators under leaves. ## Traits - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Summer Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/summer-blooming): Summer blooming plants produce their flowers during the summer season, often providing vibrant color when many other plants have finished. - [Broadleaf Tree](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/broadleaf-tree): Broadleaf trees are angiosperms characterized by flat, wide leaves that are typically shed annually in temperate climates. - [Fragrant Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fragrant-flower): Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense. - [Edible](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/edible): Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Longevous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/longevous): This trait characterizes organisms with an exceptionally long lifespan compared to others of their kind. - [Wetland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wetland): This habitat trait identifies species found in wetlands, which are areas of land saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally, including marshes, swamps, and bogs. - [Aquatic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aquatic): Aquatic habitats encompass environments where organisms live predominantly in water, including oceans, rivers, lakes, and wetlands. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always stay close to an adult when exploring near water. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify American lotus? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is American lotus? 60-200 cm ### How wide does American lotus spread? 100-300 cm ### How big are the flowers on American lotus? 10-25 cm ### When does American lotus bloom? Summer (July-September) ### Is American lotus edible? Yes ### Is American lotus toxic? None ### What is American lotus's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Alfred B. Maclay Gardens State Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/alfred-b-maclay-gardens-state-park) — Florida, US · Botanical Garden - [High Trestle Trail](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/high-trestle-trail) — Iowa, US · Trail - [Lock and Dam No. 12](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/lock-and-dam-no-12) — Iowa, US · Historic Site - [Shimek State Forest](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/shimek-state-forest) — Iowa, US · Forest [View all places to see American lotus](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/american-lotus) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [American lotus: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/american-lotus)