A triplet lotus flowers is seen at the Shili Lotus Species Garden in Wuyi county, Jinhua. [Photo/zjol.com.cn]
Triplet lotus flowers can be seen at the Shili Lotus Species Garden in the Liucheng town of She ethinic minority in Wuyi county, Jinhua, East China's Zhejiang province, according to local media outlets.
The special triplet lotus is also known as "the lotus with the most pistils per plant in Zhejiang province" by the provincial department of agriculture and rural affairs.
Multi-head lotus flowers are a rare species, with each flower having its own pedicel connecting to the stalk. The chance of a twin lotus flower occurring is only one in 100,000, while a triplet lotus is even rarer.
Wang Lingyun, senior agronomist of the Jinhua Academy of Agricultural Sciences, said that a lotus is generally composed of petals, pistils and stamens. The twin lotus seen at the garden has two complete flower organs on the same flower stalk. The pistil in one flower of the twin lotus is divided into two, making it a rare three-pedicle lotus.
The Shili Lotus Species Garden is home to over 1,000 kinds of lotus flowers, covering a total area of about 5,000 mu (333.33 hectares). The blooming period for lotuses in the garden can run from May to November, making it a popular tourist attraction for people who want to buy fresh lotus flowers and seeds.
