【Explanation】Pink petals are glamorous against the background of green lotus leaves. On July 7, the reporter learned from the Yuanmingyuan Park Management Office that the centuries-old lotus that was revived and bloomed in July 2019 has successfully expanded and nurtured a new life. On the same day, the reporter saw Gulian's "second generation" in a strip about 80 square meters in the lotus base of the Old Summer Palace.
[Same period] Zhao Aimei, deputy chief of the flower base of the Yuanmingyuan Management Office
The lotus pond behind me is the ancient lotus that we newly expanded this year (2020). If we find these ancient lotus seeds in our Yuanmingyuan, its current flowers are dark pink. The flowers are single-petaled flowers and large plant-shaped lotus flowers. It is suitable for planting on our lake. Explain that our old Summer Palace was mainly water area, the lake is relatively large, lotus is still quite popular, so it also adapts to this environment.
【Explanation】It is reported that in 2017, archaeologists discovered 11 ancient lotus seeds in the mirror incense pond at the Ruyuan ruins in the southeast corner of the Yuanmingyuan Changchun Garden. Experts identified by the Institute of Botany of the Chinese Academy of Sciences have identified that these lotus seeds have been buried underground for at least 100 years. Monitoring research and careful cultivation, 6 of the ancient lotus seeds successfully germinated, revived and bloomed in 2019.
[Same period] Zhao Aimei, deputy chief of the flower base of the Yuanmingyuan Management Office
We discovered the seeds in 2017 and sent them to the Chinese Academy of Sciences for cultivation in 2018. The seed lotus that was cultivated in 2019 returned to our Yuanmingyuan and planted in our variety pool. At that time, there were 4 variety pools. Two of them were flowering, and then the other two were not blooming. Then this year (2020) we expanded the two flowering species pools and selected the more robust lotus roots for planting in our base strip pool.
【Explanation】According to the introduction, the staff of the base will continue to cultivate and observe the second generation of lotus, which will also provide scientific research support for the study of related traits of ancient lotus.
[Same period] Zhao Aimei, deputy chief of the flower base of the Yuanmingyuan Management Office
Last year (2019) we did not receive the seeds. Then this year (2020) we want to observe this lotus. Can Gulian receive the (seed) lotus seed. We hope that this year we can find the ancient lotus seeds we need from these expanded varieties, and then use this seed for further research.
Reporter Fan Siyi reports from Beijing
Editor in charge: [Liu Xian]