lotus

Any of several different plants whose flowers have been given symbolic meaning by many cultures. The lotus of the Greeks is (family Rhamnaceae), a shrub native to southern Europe; wine made from its fruit was thought to produce contentment and forgetfulness. The Egyptian lotus is a white water lily (). The sacred lotus of the Hindus is an aquatic plant () with white or delicate pink flowers; the lotus of eastern North America is , a similar plant with yellow blossoms. is also a genus of the pea family (see legume), containing about 100 species found in temperate regions of Europe, Asia, Africa, and North America; the 20 or more species in North America are grazed by animals. The lotus is a common ornament in architecture, and since ancient times it has symbolized fertility, purity, sexuality, birth, and rebirth of the dead.

Find more information on lotus. Upgrade to Britannica Online for more on lotus.