What is the difference between a lotus and a water lily

While the leaves of water lily contain a waxy cuticle, the leaves of a lotus contain trichomes. Petals of water lily are comparatively small, thin and tapered towards the end, while the petals of the lotus are large, wider, and blunt at the end.

The petals of water lily are much thicker while the petals of the lotus are comparatively thin. Water lily generally contains many petals while lotus contains comparatively a lower number of petals. The petal color of water lily is white or rose while the petal color of the lotus is white or pink. Moreover, water lily lacks an androecial ring while lotus contains an androecial ring, which is a distinguishable feature.

Water lily contains 3 to numerous, distinct or connate carpels while lotus contains a barrel-shaped carpel that is embedded in an expanded receptacle.

Water lily blooms above the water level and the maturation of seeds occurs inside the water. In contrast, the complete cycle of blossom to the seed of lotus occurs above the water.

In brief, the water lily is a type of freshwater, flowering plant of the family Nymphaeaceae. The main distinguishing feature of water lily is the floating of both leaves as well as flowers on the water surface. The petals of the flower are thicker, thinner, and tapered towards the end. Meantime, the lotus is another type of freshwater flowering plant of the family Nelumbonaceae.

Its leaves and flowers rise above the water surface. Also, the petals of the lotus flower are thinner and larger with blunt ends. Therefore, the main difference between water lily and lotus is the level of leaves and flowers.

Iannotti, Marie. Figure 1: Water Lily. Many of both plants are easy to grow and reward the gardener with fragrant and sumptuous blossoms from June until October. There are two main divisions of water lilies: hardy and tropical. Hardy ones will survive our New York City winters if they are planted below the freezing line in a water feature, while tropical water lilies need to be stored over the winter or treated as annuals.

In addition to cold hardiness, tropical water lilies differ from hardy water lilies in the following ways:. Plant water lilies in plastic containers or baskets specifically designed for aquatic plants. Line baskets with burlap or landscape fabric so that the soil does not fall through the cracks. Several sheets of newspaper can be placed on the bottom of the containers for the same purpose. Always use topsoil that is free from herbicides and pesticides. The containers should be large enough to allow the rhizome to spread.

Since rhizomes creep across the surface of the soil, a wider pot is preferred to a deep one. Planting instructions vary for hardy water lilies and tropical ones. Tropical water lilies should be planted just like perennials. They often come as bare root plants. Place them in the center of the container and let the crown root-stem junction of the plant rest just above the surface of the soil.

With hardy water lilies, plant the rhizome at a degree angle with the growing tip positioned toward the middle of the pot, resting slightly above the soil level. Cover the soil with gravel or a thin layer of sand. Each flower on the water lily lasts 3 to 5 days. They open during the day and close at night unless they are nocturnal. Once the flower is finished, it will slowly sink into the water. Seed pods form and the ripe seeds fall into the soil below. Seed production uses a lot of the plant's energy.

To ensure many blooms, cut the dying flowers as they sink below the surface. Follow the stem down as far as it goes and either cut it or snap it with your fingers. Clean off dead or dying leaves in the same manner. Tropical water lilies can be stored over winter by lifting the plant from the container and storing the rhizome in a plastic bag or container full of damp sand and peat moss at 50 to 55 degrees.

Remember to label your rhizomes. Alternatively, you can re-pot the water lily into a smaller container. Trim the roots and cut back the majority of the foliage.

Store it in an aquarium tank making sure that the temperature doesn't get above degrees; this control will ensure that the water lily is not actively growing. Lotus will be hardy if the tuberous rhizomes do not freeze.

They grow in zones of USD Their petals are tapered towards the end. They grow in muddy water, and also they grow in a shallow stream. They are cup-shaped. The stock of tropical water lily is the long stalk. They have more fragrances. Hardy types of water lily mostly bloom during the daytime. The lifetime of water lily leaf lasts till a week. When the lifetime of a water lily flower ends, it slowly sinks into the water. We can change the water lily to a small container. Lotus are plants that commonly grow on water.

The size of the Lotus is bigger. Lotus are commonly used for devotional purposes. Lotus prefers to grow in warm weather. The new leaves of the lotus float on water, and the old leaves are raised in the air.

Lotus are commonly seen in pink color. The lotus needs to get more sunlight for about six hours. Lotus belongs to Nelumbonaceae. The native distribution of lotus is from Northern India through Indochina. Lotus grows in shallow ponds. The leaves of flowers grow above the water. It mostly grows in zones of USD The leaves are round. The petals of the flower are bigger, and they are not variegated.

The Lotus leaves contain trichomes, and they are blunt. The number of petals is less, and they are mostly seen in colors of white or pink.