"Lotus is a name given to various flowers, including several beautiful species of water lily, especially the blue water lily, and the Egyptian water lily which grow in stagnant and slowly running water in the S. of Asia and N. of Africa. The latter grows in the Nile and adjacent rivulets and has a large white flower. The root is eaten by the people who live near the lake Manzaleh. It was the rose of ancient Egypt, the favorite flower of the country, and was often made into wreaths or garlands."—(Charles Leonard-Stuart, 1911)

Egyptian Water Lily

"Lotus is a name given to various flowers, including several beautiful species of water lily, especially…