2010 Wuhan China - Bergen Water Gardens, Lotus Paradise

2010 Wuhan China Part 2

After a busy three days in Qingdao, Professor Huang Gouzhen was anxious to take me to his former home in Wuhan, China. In Wuhan, Professor Huang taught at the Academy of Science in Wuhan and contributed much to the Botanical Gardens. Wuhan is an ideal location to work on aquatic plants as most of the terrain is wet a good portion of the year. Lotus, waterlilies, Sagittaria and dozens additional varieties of aquatic plants are studied and hybridized. Wuhan is the traditional center of lotus research in China and is home to a major lotus collection at the Botanical Gardens. With water covering much of China during the year, aquatic plants are grown for food and this region works on perfecting the varieties of aquatic plants grown and consumed.

Seed Lotus:

Lotus seeds are eaten fresh, they can be packaged or dried and made into a type of flour.

Professor Huang, Larry Nau and the local officials in charge of lotus seed production

Lotus Field with a variety with “better” seeds to eat

2010 Wuham China — Demonstration of seed grinder

Chinese Lotus Seeds — Larry is shown how to harvest fresh and dry lotus seeds

Chinese lotus — Working on rry lotus seeds

Vegetable Lotus

Lotus tubers are also harvested and is common in Chinese cuisine. The tubers may be boiled, fried or pickled.

Local farmer providing a tour of the lotus field

Area of Lotus tuber field where tubers were pulled

Chinese lotus tubers — Lotus tubers ready to head to market

Lotus tubers are washed to remove the mud

Chinese lotus tuber — I did my best to interact and have fun

Aquatic Vegetable Institute

Professor Huang also arranged a tour at the Aquatic Vegetable Institute in Wuhan. Here a team of researchers work on hybridizing and perfecting various aquatic plants for food production. The staff also works with area farmers and provides new varieties to grow and helps to resolve any cultivation problems.

Lotus — Staff Picture with the vising American

Mr. Liu Yiman describes how to cook these

Wuhan China — Larry Nau was asked to give another presentation

Text Books were given as gifts by the Director

Wuhan Lotus Garden and Wuhan Academy of Science

Although the lotus had already peaked by the end of July, there were still many plants in flower. Professor Huang was thrilled to show me around his former “home base”