Lotus leaf:

Lotus leaf (scientific name: lotus leaf) is the leaf of Nelumbo nucifera in Nymphaeaceae. The maximum diameter of the lotus leaf is 60 cm, the leaves are shield-shaped or round, the surface is dark green, and the back is gray-green and wavy. It is best to have big, clean and green leaves. The stem of lotus leaf is green, covered with small thorns, like an umbrella handle; If you break the stem of the lotus leaf, there will be many connected filaments on the stem.

Numerous micron-sized waxy papillae structures are attached to the surface of lotus leaves. When observing these papillae with electron microscope, we can see that many nanoparticles with similar structures are attached to the surface of each micron-sized papillae, which scientists call the micro-nano dual structure of lotus leaf.

It is these tiny double structures that make the contact area between the lotus leaf surface and water droplets or dust very limited, so there is a phenomenon that water droplets roll on the leaf surface and take away dust. Water will not stay on the surface of lotus leaves.

The growth environment and distribution range of lotus leaves;

Lotus leaf is a perennial aquatic plant of Nymphaeaceae, which has roots and likes warm water, so water can't drown it. When the water temperature is not lower than 5℃, the seed lotus begins to germinate at 8- 10℃, the lotus root whip grows at 14℃, the lotus root accelerates to grow at 23-30℃, and the leaves and pedicels are pulled out to blossom.

In the growing period, it needs sufficient sunshine and needs to grow in shallow water with a water depth of 50-80 cm and a small flow. Lotus likes to grow in fertile, slightly acidic and organic roots.

Lotus leaves are generally distributed in subtropical and temperate regions such as Central Asia, West Asia, North America, Indian, China and Japanese. China was cultivated as early as 3000 years ago. Now carbonized ancient lotus seeds have been found in Liaoning and Zhejiang, which shows its long history. Taiwan Province Province was introduced by the Japanese only 100 years ago.

There are still wild lotus flowers in some remote places in Asia, but most of them are planted artificially for landscape decoration and eating. For example, lotus leaves are grown as cash crops in China. Many people once mistakenly thought that lotus was produced in Egypt and the Mediterranean. Around 500 BC, lotus was introduced into Egypt, probably brought by Persians.