Dictionary > Lotus

Lotus

Lotus
1. (Science: botany) a name of several kinds of water lilies; as Nelumbium speciosum, used in religious ceremonies, anciently in egypt, and to this day in Asia; Nelumbium luteum, the American lotus; and nymphaea lotus and N. Caerulea, the respectively white-flowered and blue-flowered lotus of modern egypt, which, with Nelumbium speciosum, are figured on its ancient monuments. The lotus of the lotuseaters, probably a tree found in northern Africa, Sicily, Portugal, and Spain (Zizyphus lotus), the fruit of which is mildly sweet. It was fabled by the ancients to make strangers who ate of it forget their native country, or lose all desire to return to it.
The lote, or nettle tree. See lote.
a genus (lotus) of leguminous plants much resembling clover.
alternative forms: lotos European lotus, a small tree (Diospyros lotus) of southern Europe and Asia; also, its rather large bluish black berry, which is called also the date plum.
2. An ornament much used in egyptian architecture, generally asserted to have been suggested by the egyptian water lily.
Origin: L. Lotus, gr. Cf. Lote.


You will also like...

Salmon jumping upstream in the river
Lotic Communities & Animals

A running water environment offers numerous microhabitats for many types of animals. Similar to plants, animals in lotic..

The process of photosynthesis
Photosynthesis – Photolysis and Carbon Fixation

Photosynthesis is the process that plants undertake to create organic materials from carbon dioxide and water, with the ..

Birth of a Human Baby
Birth of a Human Baby

Following nine months inside the mother's womb is the birth of the baby. Know the different stages of the birthing proce..

Freshwater aquatic plankton
Freshwater Communities & Plankton

Planktons are microscopic organisms that live suspended in aquatic habitats. There are two groups: the phytoplanktons an..

Freshwater lake ecosystem
Freshwater Producers and Consumers

Freshwater ecosystem is comprised of four major constituents, namely elements and compounds, plants, consumers, and deco..

Electromagnetic spectrum of a brain
Sleep and Dreams – Neurology

While learning and intelligence are associated with the functions of a conscious mind, sleep and dreams are activities o..

Related Articles...

No related articles found

See all Related Topics