Flowers were there long before man came into existence. They filled him with awe and wonder, inspired him into composing song and verse, and, when they withered and fell, made him pause and ref;ect on life. India is the home of a large number of floering plants, and many exotics sem to thrive as well in our country as in their own lands. This is not surpriing, for almost any type of floering plant would find a hospitable endologial haven from the sow-clad Himalayas to the surf-washed Kanyakumari,from the sun-scroched palins of Rajasthan to the rain-drenched hills of Assam. No wonder, therefore, that flowering plants have marched across our plains, ascended hills, dropped over high banks, overhung trellises, clung to walls, clapsed hedges, festoomed fences, clambered up all trees, and soared to the Himalayan heights. When we think of Indian Flowers, we think first of the Lotus, our National Flower.

Legend says that the Sacred Lotus emerged from the navel of Vishnu, enveloping Brahma, the Creator, in its satin-smooth petals. In the myths, legends, poetry and music of our ancient people, the Lotus has always figured as a symbol of beauty, perfection and sanctity. The flower has been widely used in rituals, as protifs in architectural decoration, i beautiful designs in jewellery, inpottery, embroidery, painting and sculpture. A fall-blown lotus flower measures 30 centimeters across. The many fragrant petals are usually in lovely shades of pastel-pink, although red and white forms of lotus are not uncommon. The so-called 'Blue Lotus of India', however, is not a lotus but a water-lily.

At the centre of the flower are numerous golden stamens surrounding a top shaped yellow torus, in which are embeded 10-3- seeds. The saucer-shaped glacuous leaves measures 60-90 centimeters across and are borne, like the flowers, well above water on prickely atalks. The seeds and the underground white or buff-orange rhizomes are edible.

Source : Information Folder issued by Indian Posts & Telegraph Department, Government of India