Nelumbo
/nɪˈlʌm.boʊ/noun
A genus of aquatic plants that includes the sacred lotus.
Did you know?The sacred lotus can regulate the temperature of its flowers, while its seeds are famous for remaining viable for extraordinarily long periods—helping inspire its symbolism of resurrection and renewal.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient period
Sanskrit
nalinī
“Lotus; a traditional Indic name for the water-blooming plant”
Pre-modern period
Sinhala
nelum
“Lotus, especially the sacred lotus”
18th Century
New Latin
Nelumbo
“A botanical genus name formed from the Sinhala plant name”
1780s
Botanical Latin
Nelumbium
“An alternative generic form historically used for the lotus genus”
Modern English
English
nelumbo
“A lotus plant of the genus Nelumbo”
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