Lotus

Lotus has many definitions. Depending on the context, it may refer to any of the following.

Plants

Pale form of Nelumbo lutea, the American Lotus

• The genus Lotus comprising bird's-foot trefoils and deervetches
• Either species of the genus Nelumbo:
  • Nelumbo nucifera, the blue or Indian lotus, also known as the bean of India and the sacred water-lily
  • Nelumbo lutea, the American lotus
• The genus Nymphaea, usually called water-lilies, but species sometimes called lotus, for example:
  • Nymphaea alba, the European white water-lily or white lotus
  • Nymphaea caerulea, the Egyptian blue lily or sacred blue lily, also called the blue or sacred lotus
  • Nymphaea lotus, the Egyptian white water-lily or tiger lotus
• The lotus tree of Greek mythology, into which Lotis was transformed, and which was eaten by the Lotophagi of the Odyssey (either Ziziphus lotus; the date palm; or Nymphaea caerulea)
• "Lotus" also occurs in the common, or cultivar, names of numerous unrelated plants, for example the Saussurea laniceps (snow lotus) in the family Asteraceae

See also Lotus effect, a self-cleaning property of Lotus plants

Companies

The Lotus Elise

• Lotus Cars, a British sports and racing car manufacturer; related meanings include:
  • Team Lotus, a Formula 1 constructor related to Lotus Cars
  • Lotus (computer games), a videogame series based on Lotus Cars cars
  • The Type 1 Lotus Watch, designed by Lotus Design (part of Lotus Cars)
• Lotus Software, a software company in Cambridge, Massachusetts; developer of Lotus 1-2-3 and Lotus Notes that was acquired by IBM in 1995
• Tesco Lotus, a chain of Thai hypermarket stores
• Lotus Bakeries, a belgian bakery known for their caramelized biscuits

Music

• Lotus, a techno, funk, and fusion jam-band from Phillipelphia, PA.
• "Lotus" (song), a 1998 song by R.E.M.
• "Lotus" (song), a 2005 song by Bermuda, a Screamo/Post Hardcore band from Las Vegas
• Lotus (album), an album by Santana.

Other

• The lotus is one of the Ashtamangala, or Eight Auspicious Symbols
• Dark Lotus, a Psychopathic Records supergroup consisting of, as of 2006, the Insane Clown Posse, Twiztid, and Blaze Ya Dead Homie
• The Lotus Position, a cross-legged sitting posture for meditation
• The Lotus Sutra or Sutra on the White Lotus of the Sublime Dharma
• L.O.T.U.S., an acronym for the Dutch organisation Landelijke Opleiding tot Uitbeelden Slachtoffers
• Lotus kicks, foot sweeps in some styles of T'ai Chi Ch'uan.
• Black Lotus, a notable card in the Magic: The Gathering trading-card game and also a rare and valuable herb in World of Warcraft, the video game
• "Rajiv," Indian male name meaning "Lotus Flower"
• Lotus Nightclub, a New York brand
• Lotus (character), the enemy of the comic book hero, Wonder Man
• Lotus Land is a common nickname for the city of Vancouver, Canada

• Lotus (board game), an abstract strategy board game
• Lotus Clan, a clan of dark sorcerers who worship the Yin side of the Tree of life in Battle Realms.
• Front Lotus/Reverse Lotus; taijutsu techniques in the anime and manga titled Naruto.
• Lotus Feet, a song from the album Real Illusions: Reflections by Steve Vai
• Lotus (Constellation), it was eliminated by restriction of the northern hemisphere
• Lotus Foot, The practice of foot binding in medieval China
• "Lotus" was the former ring name of professional wrestler Dave Crist, one half of the tag team Irish Airborne.