摘 要：
莲（Nelumbo nucifera），又名荷花，是睡莲科莲属多年生水生植物。“出淤泥而不染”的生物学特性使其成为君子品格的象征，在中国传统文化中具有重要地位。南宋时以荷花为特色的杭州“曲院风荷”入选西湖十景，经文人题咏、康熙题碑，成为千年园林美学范式。植物学视角下，莲的茎叶花果结构精致巧妙，展现出生命演化之美；四季轮回的变化又呈现出生命规律之美。从实用价值看，因兼备药食功能而深度融入我们的生活，现代科学更藉其叶片自洁效应研发出仿生材料。从自然物种到文化符号再到科技应用，莲完美地诠释了自然与人文的和谐共生。
关键词：莲；荷花；植物学；文化艺术
Abstract:
Nelumbo nucifera, commonly known as the lotus or simply "hehua" in Chinese, is a perennial aquatic plant of the family Nelumbonaceae. Its characteristic of " rising unsullied from muddy waters" has made it a symbol of purity and moral integrity in traditional Chinese culture. During the Southern Song Dynasty, “Quyuan Fenghe” (Breeze-ruffled Lotus in Quyuan Garden) was selected as one of the iconic Ten Scenes of West Lake in Hangzhou. With many inscriptions by literati and Emperor Kangxi, it became a paradigm of oriental garden aesthetics. From a botanical perspective, the intricate structures of the lotus's stems, leaves, flowers, and fruits showcase the beauty of evolution, revealing the merit of evolutionary design; its seasonal cycles reflect the rhythm of life itself. In terms of practical value, lotus is regarded and used simultaneously as both medicine and food, and has become deeply integrated into people’s daily life across Asia. In modern science, the self-cleaning hierarchical microstructure of its leaves is the inspiration for the creation of biomimetic superhydrophobic materials. From a natural species to a transcultural icon and finally to a technological embodiment, the lotus epitomizes the co-evolution of natural adaptation and human ingenuity.
Keywords: Lotus; Nelumbo nucifera; Botany; Cultural symbolism; Art and nature
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