Nymphaea caerulea, popularly known as the blue lotus flower, the Egyptian blue lotus or the sacred blue lily of the Nile, is a tropical water lily in the family Nymphaeaceae. It is a perennial aquatic plant with floating leaves that are directly attached to the tuberous rhizome by a long petiole. The flowers, 6-20 cm in diameter, on fleshy stems, are usually held erect above the surface of the water. It usually flowers from July to the end of summer. This water lily is native to North and Central Africa. Although once abundant in the Nile Delta, the blue lotus has now largely disappeared from this area, where it is now endangered. Images of the blue lotus flower can be found on ancient Egyptian papyri and tomb paintings as part of healing and shamanistic rituals dating back to the fourteenth century B.C. Today, the blue lotus flower is used as a sleep aid and an anxiety reliever, but has also been described as a mild stimulant. The psychoactive effects of the flower are most commonly attributed to two alkaloids, apomorphine and nuciferine. Apomorphine is a non-selective dopamine receptor agonist and activates serotonin receptors and α-adrenergic receptors. It has been used as a sedative-hypnotic since the late 1800s to treat insomnia, depression or schizophrenia. In 1951 it was reported to be a successful treatment for Parkinson's disease and also may play a role in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. Nuciferine has been suggested to have potential therapeutic applications as an antipsychotic drug and in vascular diseases associated with abnormal vasoconstriction. #scientificillustration, #botanicalart, #nymphaeacaerulea, #desertcity, #ilustracioncientifica, #artebotanico
Love your work Juan. Do you sell prints?
Beautiful .. is it a Watercolor work ?
Botanical Specialist retired to spend more time with plants
7moGreat illustration