Nelumbonaceae

Taxonomy

Family name: Nelumbonaceae A. Richard

Synonym(s): none

Common name(s): lotus-lily family

*Number of genera/species: 1/3

List of genera records in GRIN-Global

Disseminule

infructescence or fruit

Description

Note, description below describes achenesachene:
a dry, indehiscent, one-seeded fruit, with seed attached to pericarp at a single point, derived from a single, superior, simple or compound, one-loculed ovary
not infructescencesinfructescence:
mature (fruiting) inflorescence
.

Fruit an acheneachene:
a dry, indehiscent, one-seeded fruit, with seed attached to pericarp at a single point, derived from a single, superior, simple or compound, one-loculed ovary
(or infructescenceinfructescence:
mature (fruiting) inflorescence
of 12–40 achenesachene:
a dry, indehiscent, one-seeded fruit, with seed attached to pericarp at a single point, derived from a single, superior, simple or compound, one-loculed ovary
embedded in sclerifiedsclerified:
texture—hardened
receptacle), 10–20 mm long, globoseglobose:
3D shape—more or less spherical
, ovoidovoid:
3D shape—ovate
, or oblongoblong:
2D shape—much longer than broad with nearly parallel sides, corners are rounded
, tereteterete:
approximately circular in cross section; width and thickness approximately equal
in transection, stigmastigma:
the portion of the pistil receptive to pollen
persistent surrounded by circularcircular:
(of embryo) linear embryo is curved into an "O" shape
rim, pore visible near stigmastigma:
the portion of the pistil receptive to pollen
, with one seed. Pericarppericarp:
fruit wall or fruit coat
brown, dulldull:
reflecting only a low proportion of incident light, with no apparent sheen
, thick and hard, glabrousglabrous:
without hairs
, smooth.

Seeds ovoidovoid:
3D shape—ovate
, tereteterete:
approximately circular in cross section; width and thickness approximately equal
in transection, glabrousglabrous:
without hairs
.  

Embryo well developed, completely filling seed coat, foliatefoliate:
appearing leaf-like
, straight, with investinginvesting:
(of embryo) embryo is nearly or completely filling seed coat, straight, and axile and centric with spatulate cotyledons and covering the stalk for at least half its length; (of cotyledons) cotyledons spatulate and covering the stalk for at least half its length
cotyledons. Cotyledons large, fleshy, cream-colored, somewhat to significantly wider than hypocotyl-radicle, connate at margins forming cup around green plumule with several leaves.

Endosperm scanty, thin film.

Habitat and crop association

Aquarium & Pond Plants of the World tool includes descriptions and images of Nelumbo.

Identification features

Fruit
Type	acheneachene: a dry, indehiscent, one-seeded fruit, with seed attached to pericarp at a single point, derived from a single, superior, simple or compound, one-loculed ovary
Size range	10–20 mm long
Shape(s)	globoseglobose: 3D shape—more or less spherical , ovoidovoid: 3D shape—ovate , oblongoblong: 2D shape—much longer than broad with nearly parallel sides, corners are rounded
Texture	thick, hard
Surface relief	smooth
Color(s)	brown
Unique features	Brown, thick-walled achenesachene: a dry, indehiscent, one-seeded fruit, with seed attached to pericarp at a single point, derived from a single, superior, simple or compound, one-loculed ovary with large embryos, which have fleshy, cream-colored cotyledons cupped around a green plumule with leaves. AchenesAchene: a dry, indehiscent, one-seeded fruit, with seed attached to pericarp at a single point, derived from a single, superior, simple or compound, one-loculed ovary may be embedded in a dry, sclerifiedsclerified: texture—hardened receptacle.
Other
Embryo	well developed, completely filling seed coat, foliatefoliate: appearing leaf-like , with investinginvesting: (of embryo) embryo is nearly or completely filling seed coat, straight, and axile and centric with spatulate cotyledons and covering the stalk for at least half its length; (of cotyledons) cotyledons spatulate and covering the stalk for at least half its length cotyledons, straight. Cotyledons large, fleshy, connate at margins forming cup around green plumule.
Nutritive tissue	endosperm scanty, thin film

Distribution

Temperate regions of Eastern Asia, northeastern Australia, and eastern North America.

Distribution map courtesy of Angiosperm Phylogeny Website.

References

Flora of North America Editorial Committee 1993+Flora of North America Editorial Committee 1993+:
Flora of North America Editorial Committee, eds. 1993+. Flora of North America North of Mexico [Online]. 22+ vols. Flora of North America Association, New York and Oxford. Accessed January-March 2024. URL: http://beta.floranorthamerica.org.; Kirkbride et al. 2006Kirkbride et al. 2006:
Kirkbride JH, Jr, Gunn CR, and Dallwitz MJ. 2006. Family guide for fruits and seeds, vers. 1.0. Accessed September 2020-January 2022. URL: https://nt.ars-grin.gov/seedsfruits/keys/frsdfam/index.cfm .; Kubitzki et al. 1990+Kubitzki et al. 1990+:
Kubitzki K et al., eds. 1990+. The families and genera of vascular plants. 7+ vols. Berlin etc.; Takhtajan 2009Takhtajan 2009:
Takhtajan A. 2009. Flowering plants: Second edition. Springer Nature, Switzerland. 871 pp.

*The number of genera and species is based on Christenhusz and Byng 2016Christenhusz and Byng 2016:
Christenhusz MJM and Byng JW. 2016. The number of known plant species in the world and its annual increase. Phytotaxa 261 (3): 201-217. https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.261.3.1, which may differ from the number of genera in GRIN-Global.