1. A genus of aquatic plants with large floating leaves and showy flowers, native to Asia and Australia; the sacred lotus.
Usage: botanical term; often used in scientific or horticultural contexts

Examples

• The nelumbo plant is revered in many Asian cultures for its spiritual significance.
• Nelumbo nucifera, the Indian lotus, produces beautiful pink and white flowers.
• The nelumbo's seeds can remain viable for centuries in dried mud.
• Gardeners cultivate nelumbo in ornamental ponds and water gardens.
• The nelumbo leaves have a waxy coating that repels water.