Nutritive value of lotus rhizome.

THE lotus referred to as Nelumbium speciosum \nWilld., is commonly found in the lakes \nand ponds of India. It has stout creeping \nstems (rhizomes) which are separated from each \nother by constrictions at the nodes. Lotus \nrhizome is used extensively as a vegetable in \nNorth India. The fresh rhizome and dried \nslices are eaten prepared in the form of either \ncurry or fried chips. Pickles are also made \nfrom it. \nBlasdale (1) has analysed a Chinese specimen \nof the lotus rhizome. No report however is \navailable concerning the Indian lotus rhizome. \nThis note gives in brief the composition of the \nrhizome and its use as an article of food.