Nymphaea Lotus L.

Teratai, or white lotus (Nymphaea lotus), is an aquatic plant floating on the surface, 20-80 cm tall, of the Nymphaeaceae family, distributed from China and India to Australia. Its beautiful flowers can be eaten, processed into medicine, or used as a perfume ingredient, while the plant also helps absorb heavy metals from contaminated water sources. Traditionally, the lotus is believed to address high blood pressure, insomnia, and diabetes.

Grows well in calm water with a water depth of 0.5-2.5 m. Favors full sun. The lotus can be cultivated up to an elevation of 1,000 m above sea level.

• Roots hollow, poorly developed since they lack root hairs and root caps, functioning as an anchor to stay upright.
• Leaves round, shield-shaped, floating on the water surface. Upper surface dark green, smooth, slightly hairy, toothed margins, emerging from the rhizome.
• Flowers white, petals white, yellow, or purplish-red.
• Fruit spongy, ripens underwater.
• Seeds elliptical, 1.5 x 1 mm in size.

• Propagated generatively (by seed) and vegetatively (by offshoots).
• Seeds are scattered in a container of water and soaked until roots emerge. The soaking water should be changed daily for 1 week (until roots grow).
• Seedlings can be transplanted once they have fine roots and 2-3 leaves.

Tannins, flavonoids, alkaloids, anthraquinones, saponins, cardiac glycosides, phenol, steroids, triterpenes.

Treats high blood pressure, dyspepsia, dysentery, hemorrhoids, fever, insomnia, diabetes; addresses heart problems, snakebites, boils.

• Collect lotus flowers, then wash thoroughly. Drain, then cut into small pieces.
• Sun-dry or use an oven at 40°C -
• 60°C for 4-5 days.
• Store in a clean container/plastic bag.

Tunjung bodas, Tunjung tutur (Sunda).