What is National Flower?

National Flower

India is one of the oldest civilizations in the world, with a kaleidoscopic variety and rich cultural heritage. Lotus (Nelumbo Nucifera Gaertn) is the National Flower of India. It is a sacred flower and occupies a unique position in the art and mythology of ancient India and has been an auspicious symbol of Indian culture since time immemorial.

India is rich in flora. Currently, India is in tenth position globally and fourth in Asia in plant diversity. From about 70 per cent of the geographical area surveyed so far, 47,000 species of plants have been described by the Botanical Survey of India (BSI). Lotus plants are adapted to grow in the flood plains of slow-moving rivers and delta areas. As a result, lotus stands to drop hundreds of thousands of seeds yearly to the bottom of the pond. The lotus roots are planted in the pond or river bottom soil, while the leaves float on the water's surface or are held well above it.