The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1920-08-20
The American Lotus.

Reading so many articles on the
Lotus" in last weeks papers leads
me to correct the erroneous impression
that the Lotus" which are found in
such numbers in one of the little lakes
near the Gravel store, which is not far
from Edgerton, are the same which
grow in the River Nile.
This beautiful aquatic belongs to the
same family as the Nile Lotus, but it
is our own American Lotus, whose
scientific name is Nelumbo lutea, and
belongs to the water lily family. 1t
has two common names, Water Chin
quapin. or Wankapin. 1t is found in
scattered localities from Ontario to
Florida and westward, blossoming dur
ing July and August.
Before the buds are in full bloom,
they somewhat resemble double tulip.
When in full bloom the large fragrant
flowers measure from to- 10 inches
broad, and looks somewhat like yell
low form of our large white water lily,
castalia ororata, only the lotus has
fewer petals. The leaves are round,
slightly followed and very large, some
times measuring 2 feet across, and
rise high above the water. AS the sea-
son advances, they assume peculiar
blush green and are strongly ribbed
and smooth above. Both leaf and
flower stalk contain several large air
canals. The seed case reminds one of
the nozzle of sprinkiing can. 1t is
held erect, turns green and grows
larger as the petals fall. The surface
is indented with little pockets contain
ing the round nut-like seeds. Aquatic
birds pick out the seeds from this re-
ceptacle, eat some, and scatter others
in their wanderings, and thus distribute
the american Lotus. "
The Indians used the root for food
and gave the dried seed pods to their
children for rattles.
In my search for knowledge of the
history of this plant, in this particular
little lake, | find in biography of my
grandfather, Thure Kumline, one of
VVisconsin's early naturalists, by Prof.
Ed. Green, and published in the Albion
Campus over thirty years ago, the fol-
lowing:
Lake Koshkonong proved not to be
the only naturalists' paradise in that
immediate region. Some two miles to
the westward lay, deep down among
the wooded hills, chain of three lesser
lakes. In the reedy margins of the
smaller lake there grew in the summer
time such interesting aquatics as Pom
tederia cordata and Brasenia, and also
every kind Of water lily indigenous to
the northern lakes, Castalia tuberosa
and Nelumbo lutea both in rich abund
ance.
In the interest of my Edgerton and
Albion readers, / will add that Prof
Ed. Green, one of your own boys, was
born and brought up on Albion Prairie.
I think the old Green home is where
Mrs. Elizabeth Barber now lives. When
he died about two years ago he was
considered the leading botanist in the
u. S. He first became interested in
botany in grandfather class in Albion
academy. They were bosom friends as
long as my grandfather lived.
Last Sunday we went to see this
Lotus which is causing such widespread
interest in the southern part of our
state and found it. as you said, cover
ing about four acres. AS I stood on
the shore of this little lake and looked
out across the sea of nodding yellow
lotus surrounded by their rich green
pads, thought of grandpa as walking
that same shore and admiring these
same wonderful flowers over sixty
years ago, and thought how pleased he
would be could he know how many
there are now who enjoy one of his
favorite retreats, and how pleased he
would be could he know that, as the
years go on, more and more people are
waking up to the beauties of nature.
Angie Kumlien Main.