He Di

Nelumbo nucifera, the sacred lotus, is a large aquatic perennial of the Nelumbonaceae family, widely distributed in still and slow-flowing waters across Asia. The plant grows from thick branching rhizomes embedded in the bottom mud, sending up long flexible petioles that hold large round peltate leaves above the water surface; the leaf base where the petiole attaches to the underside of the blade is termed He Di (lotus leaf base) and forms a distinct umbilicate raised disc. The leaves are blue-green, water-repellent, and may reach sixty centimeters across. Fragrant pink or white flowers up to twenty-five centimeters wide rise on separate stout peduncles, followed by the characteristic flat-topped seed receptacle bearing embedded nut-like fruits. All parts of the plant are used variously in East Asian medicine and cuisine.