Nymphaea caerulea, also known as the Egyptian blue lily or sacred blue lily, is a blue water-lily in the genus Nymphaea that grows along the Nile, amongst other locations (eg. Thailand). It can be confused with Blue Lotus, Nelumbo nucifera, as they can be both be known by this name. It has historically been known as the blue lotus and sacred lotus, particularly in discussing its revered status among the Ancient Egyptians, Nubians, Abyssinians, and any number of historic African civilizations of the ancient world.^{[citation needed]} Nymphaea caerulea - image taken on 30 August 2004 in the outdoor botanical garden of Technion - Haifa, Israel. ... Scientific classification or biological classification is a method by which biologists group and categorize species of organisms. ... Divisions Green algae Chlorophyta Charophyta Land plants (embryophytes) Non-vascular plants (bryophytes) Marchantiophyta—liverworts Anthocerotophyta—hornworts Bryophyta—mosses Vascular plants (tracheophytes) †Rhyniophyta—rhyniophytes †Zosterophyllophyta—zosterophylls Lycopodiophyta—clubmosses †Trimerophytophyta—trimerophytes Pteridophyta—ferns and horsetails Seed plants (spermatophytes) †Pteridospermatophyta—seed ferns Pinophyta—conifers Cycadophyta—cycads Ginkgophyta—ginkgo Gnetophyta—gnetae Magnoliophyta—flowering plants... Classes Magnoliopsida - Dicots Liliopsida - Monocots The flowering plants or angiosperms are the most widespread group of land plants. ... Magnoliopsida is the botanical name for a class: this name is formed by replacing the termination -aceae in the name Magnoliaceae by the termination -opsida (Art 16 of the ICBN). ... Families Cabombaceae - fanworts Nymphaeaceae - water lilies The Nymphaeales are an order of flowering plants, including two families of aquatic herbs: Family Nymphaeaceae (waterlily family) Family Cabombaceae (fanwort family) Sometimes the Cabombaceae are included within the Nymphaeaceae. ... genera see text Nymphaeaceae is the botanical name of a family of flowering plants. ... Species About 50 species, including: Nymphaea alba- European White Water-lily Nymphaea amazonium Nymphaea ampla Nymphaea blanda Nymphaea caerulea- Egyptian Blue Water-lily Nymphaea calliantha Nymphaea candida Nymphaea capensis- Cape Blue Water-lily Nymphaea citrina Nymphaea colorata Nymphaea elegans Nymphaea fennica Nymphaea flavovirens Nymphaea gardneriana Nymphaea gigantea- Australian Water-lily... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... The term blue may refer to any of a number of similar colours. ... genera see text Nymphaeaceae is the botanical name of a family of flowering plants. ... For other uses, see Genus (disambiguation). ... Species About 50 species, including: Nymphaea alba- European White Water-lily Nymphaea amazonium Nymphaea ampla Nymphaea blanda Nymphaea caerulea- Egyptian Blue Water-lily Nymphaea calliantha Nymphaea candida Nymphaea capensis- Cape Blue Water-lily Nymphaea citrina Nymphaea colorata Nymphaea elegans Nymphaea fennica Nymphaea flavovirens Nymphaea gardneriana Nymphaea gigantea- Australian Water-lily... The Nile (Arabic: , transliteration: , Ancient Egyptian iteru, Coptic piaro or phiaro) is a major north-flowing river in Africa, generally regarded as the longest river in the world. ... Binomial name Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn. ... Map of Ancient Egypt Ancient Egypt was the civilization of the Nile Valley between about 3000 BC and the conquest of Egypt by Alexander the Great in 332 BC. As a civilization based on irrigation it is the quintessential example of an hydraulic empire. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... This article needs cleanup. ...

The leaves are broadly rounded, 25-40 cm across, with a notch at the leaf stem. The flowers are 10-15 cm diameter. Reports in the literature by persons unfamiliar with its actual growth and blooming cycle have suggested that the flowers open in the morning, rising to the surface of the water, then close and sink at dusk.^{[citation needed]} In fact, the flower buds rise to the surface over a period of two to three days, and when ready, open at approximately 9-9:30am and close about 3pm. The flowers and buds do not rise above the water in the morning, nor do they submerge at night. The flowers have pale bluish-white to sky-blue petals, smoothly changing to a pale yellow in the centre of the flower. “Foliage” redirects here. ... A Phalaenopsis flower Rudbeckia fulgida A flower, (<Old French flo(u)r<Latin florem<flos), also known as a bloom or blossom, is the reproductive structure found in flowering plants (plants of the division Magnoliophyta, also called angiosperms). ... It has been suggested that Corolla be merged into this article or section. ...

It was considered extremely significant in Egyptian mythology, since it was said to rise and fall with the sun. Consequently, due to its colourings, it was identified, in some beliefs, as having been the original container, in a similar manner to an egg, of Atum, and in similar beliefs Ra, both solar deities. As such, its properties form the origin of the lotus variant of the Ogdoad cosmogeny. It was the symbol of the Egyptian deity Nefertem.^{[citation needed]} Egyptian mythology or Egyptian religion is the succession of tentative beliefs held by the people of Egypt for over three thousand years, prior to major exposure to Christianity and Islam. ... In most birds and reptiles, an egg (Latin ovum) is the zygote, resulting from fertilization of the ovum. ... History Atum (alternatively spelt Tem, Temu, Tum, and Atem) is an early deity in Egyptian mythology, whose cult centred on the Ennead of Heliopolis. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... It has been suggested that Sun cults be merged into this article or section. ... In Egyptian mythology, the Ogdoad are the eight deities worshipped in Hermopolis. ... Cosmogony [Gr. ... In Egyptian mythology, Nefertem (also Nefertum, Nefer-Tem, Nefer-Temu), god of perfume, the blue lotus blossom out of which Ra emerged. ...

It is used in perfumes and aromatherapy. Perfume is a mixture of fragrant essential oils and aroma compounds, fixatives, and solvents used to give the human body, objects, and living spaces a pleasant smell. ... It has been suggested that Aromatherapy Candles be merged into this article or section. ...

Psychoactive and physiological effects

Recent studies have shown Nymphaea caerulea to have psychedelic properties, and may have been used as a sacrament in ancient Egypt and certain ancient South American cultures. Dosages of 5 to 10 grams of the flowers induces slight stimulation, a shift in thought processes, enhanced visual perception, and mild closed-eye visuals. Nymphaea caerulea is related to, and possesses similar activity as Nelumbo nucifera, the Sacred Lotus. Both Nymphaea caerulea and Nelumbo nucifera contain the alkaloids nuciferine and apomorphine, which have been recently isolated by independent labs.^{[citation needed]} Binomial name Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn. ... Apomorphine is a type of dopaminergic agonist, a morphine derivative. ...

These psychoactive effects make Nymphaea caerulea a likely candidate (among several) for the lotus plant eaten by the mythical Lotophagi in Homer's Odyssey. In Greek mythology, the Lotophagi (Greek , lotus-eaters) were a race of people from an island near Northern Africa dominated by lotus plants. ... Homer (Greek: ) is the name given to the supposed unitary author of the early Greek poems the Iliad and the Odyssey. ... Beginning of the Odyssey The Odyssey (Greek Οδύσσεια (Odússeia) ) is one of the two major ancient Greek epic poems attributed to the Ionian poet Homer. ...

Used in aromatherapy, Nymphaea caerulea is purported to have a "divine" essence, bringing euphoria, heightened awareness and tranquility.^{[citation needed]} It has been suggested that Aromatherapy Candles be merged into this article or section. ...

Other sources cite anti-spasmodic and sedative, purifying and calming properties.^{[citation needed]}

See also

• Nymphaea lotus, the Egyptian white water-lily
• Palmette
• Fleur-de-lis

COMMON NAME: Tiger Lotus FAMILY: Nymphaeaceae RANGE: East Africa; Southeast Asia AQUASCAPE: specimen plant HEIGHT: To 18 (45 cm) AH: From 16 (40 cm) WATER: bright LIGHT: pH: 5. ... An antefix in the form of a palmette As an illustration of the way in which the palmette motif was seen by 19th century architects and decorators, who in Europe, America and elsewhere in colonial cities created their own unending variations on the motif as a kind of hallmark of... Fleurs-de-lys on the flag of Quebec The fleur-de-lis (also spelled fleur-de-lys; plural fleurs-de-lis or -lys) is used in heraldry, where it is particularly associated with the France monarchy (see King of France). ...

References