American Lotus Bed

I have heard that there is American Lotus, Nelumbo lutea in Michigan, particularly in the Grand River in Ottawa County. As I am always interested in finding new plants that I have not yet seen or photographed, I was especially interested in an article in the Michigan Botanist about research of native populations of Louts in Michigan. The largest of these native populations are in the Grand River just upstream from Grand Haven. So a couple of weeks ago we drove out to recon the Stearns Bayou area to see if we could see them from the road and find access points to the water. The Grand River boat launch near Stearns seemed to be the best place to put in, so we launched our kayaks last evening and set out to find these majestic wonders.

American Lotus Leaf Upturned

We began by paddling back towards Stearns Bayou; looking at the map again would have helped. As we reached the turn into the bayou on the right, we went left as the article said they were half a mile from the bridge over the bayou, where the bayou meets the river. So we paddled through the opening it cattail marsh and photographed Great Blue Herons. We came to a “T” in the marsh and I decided to turn right and after paddle to what should be about half a mile from the bridge all I could see were more cattails with not exit to the river. So we turned around and headed back in the opposite direction only to find the same situation. So we returned the same way we had come and when we reached the boat launch the only words out of my mouth were “you’ve got to be kidding me” as I looked over at the Lotus reaching for the sky from the water. You could see them from the launch; well we had a good hour’s paddle anyways.

American Lotus

The Lotus has large creamy white to pale yellow blossoms on stems reaching a foot or more out of the water. These flowers are quite a sight. The large rounded leaves begin by laying flat on the water and later rise above the water in a funnel shape. The leaves cause water to bead up and run of when splashed on. We found some leaves at over two feet in diameter, one I used the blade of my paddle to get a size on measured out at 26 inches across. Leaves have the petiole attached in the center and have no sinus. The seed pods are quite unique with a somewhat funnel shape and flat on top with circular openings where each receptacle was. Each of these will contain a seed to drop out after the head breaks off and floats downstream.

American Indians used the tubers and leaves for food and believed that the plants had mystic powers and often kept tubers to ward of witches. This threatened species is found about 6 feet of quiet waters of rivers and lakes.