WILD
FOODIES' HOME PAGE
PLANT PROFILE LIST
NAME: American Lotus
SPECIES / FAMILY: Nelumbo Lutea / Nelumbonaceae
OTHER COMMON NAME(S): Yellow Water Lotus, Yellow Lotus, Alligator Buttons, Duck Acorns, Water Chinquapin, Yonkapin, Yockernut and Pondnut (2)
CONDITIONS: sun, moist soil,
ponds, marshes
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PARTS: |
EDIBLE |
TASTE |
RAW/COOK |
SEASON |
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All |
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Shoots |
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COOK |
Spring |
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Leaves |
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COOK |
Spring |
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Stalk/Stem |
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beets |
COOK |
Spring |
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Buds |
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Flowers |
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DRY/COOK |
Spring/Summer |
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Fruits |
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Pods |
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Seeds |
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chestnut |
RAW/COOK |
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Nuts |
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Roots |
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sweet potato |
COOK |
Fall |
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Bark |
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PORTION: small
COMMENT: Huge food source for American Indians. Numerous, all parts of the plant raw or cooked, root, seeds, unopened leaves, and stems. HOWEVER, all parts better seeped in water and cooked to reduce any bitterness. Boiled greens, seeds squeezed out of their shell are especially tasty. Dried flowers for tea or added to soups. Lastly, the wilted leaves — held next to a fire — can be used to wrap food in for cooking…. The unopened leaves are edible like spinach and older leaves can be used to wrap food. Stems taste somewhat like beets and are usually peeled before cooking.(2) Baked root is sweet and mealy, somewhat like a sweet potato. The root will store for several months. Leaves and young stems - cooked. Seed - raw or cooked. A very agreeable taste. The seed can be dried, ground into a powder and used for making bread, thickening soups etc or can be eaten dry. The bitter tasting embryo is often removed. The half-ripe seed is said to be delicious raw or cooked, with a taste like chestnuts. An edible oil can be extracted from the seed.(1)
CAUTION: Always go slow with any plant in case you are allergic or sensitive to it. //
NUTRITION/MEDICINAL: The seed contains up to 19% protein. The root is pounded into a pulp, either fresh or dried, and used as a poultice for many inflammatory diseases.”(1)
LOOK-A-LIKES:
POISONOUS LOOK-A-LIKES:
OTHER USES: Oil (1)
SOURCE LINKS (may include nutritional and medicinal info, plus other uses):
- https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Nelumbo+lutea
- http://www.eattheweeds.com/american-lotus-worth-getting-wet-for-2
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nelumbo_lutea
- http://www.foragingtexas.com/2006/04/lotus.html (good photos)
- https://davesgarden.com/guides/articles/edible-wild-plants-the-american-lotus-nelumbo-lutea
- http://www.clovegarden.com/ingred/pr_lotusz.html
- https://eattheplanet.org/american-lotus-fun-to-forage-and-highly-nutritious
- http://tcpermaculture.com/site/2013/07/12/permaculture-plants-water-lotus
- https://www.louisianasportsman.com/general/cajun-peanuts-picking-american-lotus-seeds-for-the-table
- https://main.oxfordamerican.org/item/1805-on-eating-lotus
- https://www.lewisginter.org/lotus-pods-2-ways
- https://ohmyveggies.com/lotus-root
- https://www.seriouseats.com/seriously-asian-stir-fried-lotus-root-with-vegetables-daikon-miso-soup-recipe