File:Nelumbo Nucifera Lotus Flower (223664533).jpeg

500px provided description: An aquatic perennial with large showy flowers, the sacred lotus has long been considered a close relative of water lilies. However, lotus flowers differ markedly from those of water lilies, most notably through the obconical (ice-cream cone-shaped) receptacle in the centre, into which numerous free carpels are sunken. Recent molecular research has shown that the closest living relatives of the sacred lotus are the plane trees ( Platanus spp., Platanaceae) and members of the protea family (Proteaceae). Their isolated phylogenetic position indicates that both Nelumbo and Platanus may be living fossils (the only survivors of an ancient and formerly much more diverse group).

powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:605422-1 [#lily ,#flower ,#floral ,#petal ,#peony ,#blossom ,#bloom ,#pink flower ,#blooming ,#flowe ,#pink petals ,#summer flowers]