Yellow Lotus aka American Lotus.

 Lotus. When I hear this name, my imagination immediately conjures up images of something sacred, the sacred mysteries of Buddhist monks, and the meditations of Indian yogis.

What does this flower actually represent, and how mysterious is it?

There are two species of plants in the lotus family.

The Nelumbo nucifera  and the Nelumbo lutea .

Nelumbo nucifera grows across a vast area of ​​southern and southeastern Asia, northern Africa, and southern and eastern Australia. Its flower is characterized by its light pink hue. This flower is the object of worship in many religions and beliefs.

Nelumbo lutea is native to North America. I encountered this bright yellow flower while kayaking along the rivers of Pennsylvania.

Since I hadn't previously realized that lotuses grew on the North American continent, I initially mistook a distant plantation of aquatic plants for water lilies. Although they immediately struck me as unusual.

This is the characteristic and obvious difference between the Nymphaeaceae and Lotus families. Nymphaeaceae and their leaves float on the water, while Lotuses have a sturdy stem. Lotus flowers float up to 20 inches ( 50 cm)  above the water.

Although the yellow lotus' conservation status in the United States as a whole is not endangered, it is listed as endangered in states such as Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Michigan. And in Delaware, the yellow lotus no longer grows.

This is primarily due to the destruction of natural habitats, including global warming. As rivers become shallower, their deltas and floodplains shrink. These areas are ideal for lotus plants to thrive.

Moreover, in ancient times, the indigenous peoples of North America contributed to the spread of the yellow lotus, as its tuberous roots and seeds were part of their diet. Nowadays, you can buy a package of lotus seeds online for cooking, but this is rather exotic.

Why did this flower become sacred in many beliefs?

Lotus seeds germinate from muddy and marshy soil in stagnant or slow-moving waters.

And from this mud a flower is born—a refined and perfect form. As a symbol of transformation and spiritual growth, it demonstrates the path of transforming the crude material world within oneself into a world of spiritual purity and perfection.