Most species of Nymphaea in cultivation are tropical, but some of the hardy kinds are native to the United States and to the corresponding temperate areas of the Southern Hemisphere. The lotus flower is traditional in Egyptian art and architecture, as in the lotus capital . Its large pink blossom is used symbolically in religion and art. Most species of Nuphar are native to North America.
Lotus is also the botanical name for a genus of the pea family.
Water lilies are classified in the division Magnoliophyta , class Magnoliopsida, order Nymphaeales, family Nymphaeaceae. Listing from Electric Library , a pay service. Copyright 2001 Infonautics Corporation . All rights reserved. Immersed in the Everglades.