The lotus (Nelumbo Nucifera Gaertn) is the national flower of India. It is considered to be a sacred flower and occupies an important place in the country’s art and mythology. It is considered to be auspicious in Indian culture. The lotus, which grows in shallow water, has bright floating flowers with long stems.
India is rich in flora. Currently available data place India in the tenth position in the world and fourth in Asia in plant diversity. From about 70 per cent geographical area surveyed so far, 47,000 species of plants have been described by the Botanical Survey of India (BSI).
