The Lotus And The Nile The blue lotus (Nymphaea caerulea) belongs to the Nymphaeaceae (Water Lilies) family. The blue lotus has several common names including: Egyptian lotus, blue water lily, and sacred lily of the Nile. It should not be confused with the "blue lily" or Agapanthus africanus, a plant of a completely different genus (Anonymous, 1999). Also be careful not to confuse it with the Nymphaea lotus, which is the "white lotus". Fossils of this plant have been dated to the Jurassic period, about 160 million years ago. Surprisingly, fossils suggest that the blue lotus hasn't changed much. Other records indicate widespread dispersal of this flower before the Ice Age (Edwards, 1998). It is important to first explain a few things about the nature of the blue lotus. The blue lotus or water lily is a floating aquatic plant known for its colorful and aromatic flowers. The leaves are waxy, leathery and dark green in color with a red-purple color on the underside (Edwards, 1998). The genus Nymphaea includes both tropical species and cold-resistant species. There are also night flowers and day flowers. Tropical day flowers are the lotus used by the Egyptians (Edwards, 1998). The flowers of many lotus species have the shocking habit of folding their petals and sinking beneath the surface of the water during the night and re-emerging the next day to bloom again (Philbrick and Les, 1996). Many ancient cultures believe that the blue lotus is of great use and esteemed status. In Asia and Africa, the blue lotus symbolized immortality in recognition of the plant's ability to survive and germinate after long droughts, and the seed's ability to remain viable for many years (Edwards, 1998). In China it was considered a religious symbol and a symbol of female beauty. Likewise in India, it was compared to the female human form, and in their legends they believe that Brahma, their creator of the universe, was born from a lotus-like flower (Edwards, 1998). The Japanese saw a representation of purity and the juxtaposition of good and evil, and Buddhists have a prayer that mentions the lotus: "Omi! Mani padme hum!" which is interpreted as "Oh!, the jewel in the lotus flower!" (Edwards, 1998). The Greeks also admired the blue lotus. They associated the flowers with the mythical nymphs and beautiful maidens who were thought to inhabit the forests and mountains (Edwards, 1998). The people of ancient Egypt (Kemet), used the blue lotus extensively in their art and daily uses.