This once plentiful source of old lotus fruits is rapidly disappearing.
The significance of lotus seed longevity is not, as it is sometimes viewed by the public, a path to discovery of a 'fountain of youth'.
But de-personalized consumerism gives way, in disturbingly direct fashion, to that which our latter-day lotus-eaters would most willingly forget.
They serve as anchors, and they also absorb water and nutrients for lotus growth.
We invite those interested to share our lotus collections for this and other avenues of useful research.
A substantial decrease in the water level in a lotus pot can quickly cause drying of interveinal tissues in tall standing leaves.
Except for the proteins mentioned earlier, the identities, functions and characteristics of the remaining heat-hardy lotus proteins are at present unknown.
Why do lotus fruits exhibit such remarkable longevity?
