千瓣蓮(lian)是荷花(hua)(hua)珍品,古籍記載在中(zhong)國隋唐時(shi)(shi)期即已(yi)出現。因其雄蕊、花(hua)(hua)托、心(xin)皮全部瓣化,花(hua)(hua)瓣重(zhong)疊,花(hua)(hua)蕾呈桃形(xing),外瓣大,內瓣小(xiao),瓣數常達1500~3000枚,而(er)極具觀賞(shang)價(jia)值(zhi)。同一(yi)品種在不同地區(qu)、不同時(shi)(shi)期可(ke)開(kai)出1~6花(hua)(hua)心(xin)的荷花(hua)(hua),單花(hua)(hua)球重(zhong)可(ke)達0.5~0.7kg,武漢地區(qu)通常在7~8月開(kai)花(hua)(hua)。
千(qian)瓣(ban)蓮(lian)(lian)在(zai)中國(guo)的分布(bu),一(yi)(yi)般認(ren)為源于(yu)2處,一(yi)(yi)是江蘇省昆(kun)山(shan)縣(xian)紅代鎮東(dong)亭村“玉(yu)山(shan)佳處”,據《昆(kun)山(shan)縣(xian)志(zhi)》記載“千(qian)瓣(ban)蓮(lian)(lian)由元(yuan)朝(chao)詩人顧珂瑛(ying)(公元(yuan)1310~1360年)種(zhong)(zhong)植,歷時600個(ge)春秋于(yu)20世紀40年代重新被發(fa)現。今滬(hu)、杭、寧一(yi)(yi)帶引(yin)種(zhong)(zhong)的千(qian)瓣(ban)蓮(lian)(lian)多(duo)自(zi)(zi)昆(kun)山(shan);二(er)是湖北當陽縣(xian)玉(yu)泉寺,相(xiang)傳(chuan)是一(yi)(yi)古(gu)僧從浙江普(pu)陀山(shan)引(yin)進(jin),現已(yi)有18個(ge)省市(shi)自(zi)(zi)治區逾(yu)百家單(dan)位(wei)進(jin)行引(yin)種(zhong)(zhong)栽培。
除玉泉(quan)寺外,千(qian)瓣(ban)蓮(lian)作為食(shi)用蓮(lian)藕(ou)在云南呈貢(gong)、玉溪和姚安等地區有著大(da)面積栽培。千(qian)瓣(ban)蓮(lian)多(duo)在池塘或水田中栽培,蓮(lian)藕(ou)產品每年秋冬上市,每667m2產量可達1000~1250kg。據觀測,當地千(qian)瓣(ban)蓮(lian)株高140~160cm,葉片長(chang)寬比較大(da);根狀莖3~4節,第3節長(chang)20~25cm,粗5.5~6cm,呈長(chang)條;花(hua)(hua)(hua)形多(duo)為單(dan)花(hua)(hua)(hua)心(xin)(xin),少許2花(hua)(hua)(hua)心(xin)(xin),引種到(dao)武漢(han)后(hou)可開出1~6朵花(hua)(hua)(hua)心(xin)(xin)的花(hua)(hua)(hua)。
在(zai)安寧、富民、姚安、呈貢、玉溪、宜良等(deng)地(di)區栽培(pei)的蓮(lian)藕(ou)(ou)大部(bu)分是千(qian)(qian)(qian)瓣蓮(lian)。除云(yun)南(nan)(nan)省(sheng)外,千(qian)(qian)(qian)瓣蓮(lian)只在(zai)湖(hu)北省(sheng)當陽縣的玉泉寺內發現(xian)有栽培(pei),武漢郊區亦有栽培(pei),作觀(guan)賞花(hua)(hua)(hua)蓮(lian),是佛教的一(yi)種(zhong)(zhong)象征(zheng)物(wu)(wu)。將千(qian)(qian)(qian)瓣蓮(lian)作為(wei)(wei)栽培(pei)蓮(lian)藕(ou)(ou)是云(yun)南(nan)(nan)省(sheng)的一(yi)大特色。該品(pin)種(zhong)(zhong)在(zai)云(yun)南(nan)(nan)省(sheng)的特征(zheng)表現(xian):雄蕊、花(hua)(hua)(hua)托、心(xin)(xin)皮全(quan)部(bu)瓣化,株高150—160cm,單(dan)花(hua)(hua)(hua)心(xin)(xin),少(shao)2花(hua)(hua)(hua)心(xin)(xin),花(hua)(hua)(hua)瓣1000—1500枚,藕(ou)(ou)節(jie)細長(chang),節(jie)間長(chang)20—30cm,粗3—4cm,3—4節(jie),藕(ou)(ou)含纖維較(jiao)多(duo)。引(yin)種(zhong)(zhong)回武漢栽培(pei)后,由于(yu)氣候差異較(jiao)大,株高可(ke)達180—200cm,7—8月開花(hua)(hua)(hua),花(hua)(hua)(hua)多(duo)為(wei)(wei)2—3花(hua)(hua)(hua)心(xin)(xin),少(shao)單(dan)花(hua)(hua)(hua)心(xin)(xin),多(duo)者可(ke)達5—6花(hua)(hua)(hua)心(xin)(xin),花(hua)(hua)(hua)瓣數千(qian)(qian)(qian)枚,藕(ou)(ou)節(jie)細長(chang),主藕(ou)(ou)多(duo)3—4節(jie),5節(jie)以(yi)上的藕(ou)(ou)所(suo)占(zhan)比例可(ke)達37%,每667m2產量1000kg左右。經測定,鮮藕(ou)(ou)含干物(wu)(wu)質(zhi)(zhi)21.75%、淀粉1.26%、蛋白(bai)質(zhi)(zhi)0.55%,VC633.7mg,均(jun)高于(yu)目前推廣品(pin)種(zhong)(zhong)及地(di)方(fang)品(pin)種(zhong)(zhong)。云(yun)南(nan)(nan)地(di)區的千(qian)(qian)(qian)瓣蓮(lian)是否(fou)存在(zai)分化尚不清楚,暫將之(zhi)定名為(wei)(wei)云(yun)南(nan)(nan)千(qian)(qian)(qian)瓣蓮(lian)。
云南千瓣(ban)(ban)(ban)蓮是滇中(zhong)(zhong)地區傳統的蓮藕(ou)栽培品種(zhong)。每年立春后撒秧前(qian)扦插(cha)于平(ping)整(zheng)水田中(zhong)(zhong),與秧苗(miao)同時(shi)出(chu)苗(miao)生(sheng)(sheng)長,待秧苗(miao)移栽后即快速分(fen)蘗,遍布覆蓋整(zheng)個水田。荷花(hua)(hua)初出(chu)時(shi)呈細紡(fang)錘形(xing),外(wai)瓣(ban)(ban)(ban)綠色,隨著(zhu)花(hua)(hua)瓣(ban)(ban)(ban)的生(sheng)(sheng)成,中(zhong)(zhong)下部(bu)漸膨大(da)成尖(jian)桃形(xing),外(wai)部(bu)綠色花(hua)(hua)瓣(ban)(ban)(ban)依次掉(diao)落,露出(chu)中(zhong)(zhong)間粉紅色花(hua)(hua)瓣(ban)(ban)(ban),但花(hua)(hua)瓣(ban)(ban)(ban)永不開放(fang)(fang)翻轉(zhuan),只(zhi)是微(wei)松,依次少(shao)量掉(diao)落,直至枯(ku)萎,仍是花(hua)(hua)苞(bao)形(xing)狀。頑童摘來玩(wan)耍時(shi),將花(hua)(hua)瓣(ban)(ban)(ban)依次一頁頁翻開,然花(hua)(hua)瓣(ban)(ban)(ban)仍不能窮(qiong)竟,直至中(zhong)(zhong)心(xin)(xin)極細小花(hua)(hua)瓣(ban)(ban)(ban)各自(zi)分(fen)為幾簇,攢在一起(qi),花(hua)(hua)中(zhong)(zhong)并無蓮蓬,因而(er)也不結蓮子。或有大(da)一些的孩(hai)子,將大(da)花(hua)(hua)瓣(ban)(ban)(ban)掰下,凹面朝(chao)上放(fang)(fang)于左手拇指(zhi)和食指(zhi)圍成的圈中(zhong)(zhong),右掌合攏(long),用力拍花(hua)(hua)瓣(ban)(ban)(ban)使其花(hua)(hua)瓣(ban)(ban)(ban)中(zhong)(zhong)心(xin)(xin)被氣撐破(po)(po)以(yi)發出(chu)啪的一聲(sheng),以(yi)此為樂(le),常常多人在一起(qi)比(bi)賽,以(yi)破(po)(po)洞大(da)、聲(sheng)音響者為勝(sheng)。
近年因引進外地新(xin)品(pin)種(zhong)蓮藕,此(ci)老品(pin)種(zhong)千瓣(ban)蓮栽培面積有所減少,但仍是當地人民的(de)喜食品(pin)種(zhong),引進的(de)新(xin)品(pin)種(zhong)雖產量稍高(gao),但所含營養及(ji)口(kou)感大不如云南千瓣(ban)蓮。