Lotus and Lotus Seedlings: The lotus has formed air cavities to adapt to aquatic life, which can also be seen in the petioles and stems. There are many tiny water-conducting tubes on the stem, with thickened mucilaginous lignocellulose attached to their walls. These tubes have some elasticity, which, when bent and stretched, produces many white, interconnected lotus threads. Older lotus stems have more threads than younger ones. The top bud of the lotus stem is called "lotus canopy," covered by scales. After germination, it produces a white, tender, long underground stem known as "lotus rhizome." The rhizome is segmented, with adventitious roots around each node. Leaves and flowers emerge from the nodes. The new lotus formed at the tip of the rhizome is the main lotus, with robust ones having 4-7 segments, each about 10-25 cm long and 6-12 cm in diameter. Branching off from the main lotus are the daughter lotus stems; from these, smaller stems known as grandchild lotus stems grow, usually with only one segment. The size, shape, color, ripeness, depth of insertion into the mud, and quality and flavor of the lotus vary by variety and are influenced by cultivation and conditions.