NEW SYSTEM FOR LOTUS VARIETY CLASSIFICATION

Based on the past researches, the principles for lotus species classification were proposed.Some modifications had been made to the classification system used inthe book Pictorial Hand book of Chinese Lotus Species.Nulumbo lutea, which was assumed to be an independent species in the past,was reconsidered as a subspecies of N.nucifera.Dwarf and medium types were separated from the vigorous and paralleled toeach other.New groups,such as duplicate-petal varieties and variegated varieties were added to the system.Overall,the new system consisted of three specific constitutions,six groups, fourteen types and thirty-eight forms.Two hundred and seventy-eight specieswere included.