A long-lived aquatic perennial native to tropical Asia, the Sacred Lotus (Nelumbo nucifera) belongs to a basally diverging lineage of dicots found in ponds and rivers.  Its splendid flowers, many culinary and medicinal uses, and unique biological properties have led to its reverence among many religions such as Hinduism and Buddhism. The seeds of the Sacred Lotus have been found to remain viable for over 1,000 years, and it’s flowers are capable of thermoregulation to maintain temperatures of 30ºC even as night time temperatures drop below 10ºC. The leaves are also unique for their extreme hydrophobicity, that lends it “self-cleaning” properties; a brief rain will run off the leaves taking with it any residual debris that had found its way onto the plant.