A name of several kinds of water lilies; as Nelumbium
   speciosum, used in religious ceremonies, anciently in Egypt, and to
   this day in Asia; Nelumbium luteum, the American lotus; and Nymphaea
   Lotus and N. caerulea, the respectively white-flowered and
   blue-flowered lotus of modern Egypt, which, with Nelumbium speciosum,
   are figured on its ancient monuments.