千瓣(ban)(ban)蓮是荷(he)花(hua)珍(zhen)品(pin),古(gu)籍記(ji)載在中國隋唐時期即已出(chu)現。因其雄蕊、花(hua)托、心皮全部瓣(ban)(ban)化,花(hua)瓣(ban)(ban)重疊(die),花(hua)蕾呈桃形,外瓣(ban)(ban)大,內瓣(ban)(ban)小,瓣(ban)(ban)數常(chang)達(da)1500~3000枚,而極具觀賞價值。同(tong)一品(pin)種在不同(tong)地(di)區(qu)、不同(tong)時期可(ke)開出(chu)1~6花(hua)心的荷(he)花(hua),單花(hua)球重可(ke)達(da)0.5~0.7kg,武漢地(di)區(qu)通常(chang)在7~8月開花(hua)。
千(qian)瓣蓮在中國的分(fen)布(bu),一(yi)般認為源于(yu)2處,一(yi)是江蘇省昆山(shan)縣(xian)紅代鎮(zhen)東亭村“玉山(shan)佳處”,據《昆山(shan)縣(xian)志》記載“千(qian)瓣蓮由元朝詩人顧珂(ke)瑛(公元1310~1360年(nian))種(zhong)(zhong)植,歷時600個(ge)春秋于(yu)20世紀40年(nian)代重新被發現。今滬、杭、寧一(yi)帶引(yin)(yin)種(zhong)(zhong)的千(qian)瓣蓮多自(zi)昆山(shan);二是湖北當陽縣(xian)玉泉寺,相傳(chuan)是一(yi)古僧從浙江普陀(tuo)山(shan)引(yin)(yin)進,現已有18個(ge)省市自(zi)治區(qu)逾百家單位進行引(yin)(yin)種(zhong)(zhong)栽培。
除玉(yu)泉寺外(wai),千(qian)(qian)瓣(ban)蓮(lian)(lian)作為食用(yong)蓮(lian)(lian)藕在(zai)云南呈貢、玉(yu)溪和(he)姚安等地區有著大面積栽(zai)培(pei)。千(qian)(qian)瓣(ban)蓮(lian)(lian)多在(zai)池塘或水(shui)田中栽(zai)培(pei),蓮(lian)(lian)藕產品每(mei)年秋冬(dong)上市,每(mei)667m2產量(liang)可達1000~1250kg。據觀測,當地千(qian)(qian)瓣(ban)蓮(lian)(lian)株高140~160cm,葉片長寬比(bi)較(jiao)大;根(gen)狀莖3~4節,第3節長20~25cm,粗5.5~6cm,呈長條;花(hua)形多為單花(hua)心,少許2花(hua)心,引(yin)種到武漢后(hou)可開出1~6朵花(hua)心的(de)花(hua)。
在(zai)安(an)寧、富民(min)、姚安(an)、呈貢、玉溪、宜良等地(di)區(qu)栽(zai)(zai)培(pei)的蓮(lian)(lian)藕(ou)(ou)(ou)(ou)大部分是千(qian)(qian)瓣(ban)蓮(lian)(lian)。除云(yun)(yun)南(nan)省(sheng)外,千(qian)(qian)瓣(ban)蓮(lian)(lian)只在(zai)湖北省(sheng)當陽(yang)縣的玉泉寺內發現(xian)有栽(zai)(zai)培(pei),武漢(han)郊區(qu)亦有栽(zai)(zai)培(pei),作觀賞花(hua)(hua)(hua)蓮(lian)(lian),是佛教的一種(zhong)(zhong)象征(zheng)物。將(jiang)千(qian)(qian)瓣(ban)蓮(lian)(lian)作為(wei)栽(zai)(zai)培(pei)蓮(lian)(lian)藕(ou)(ou)(ou)(ou)是云(yun)(yun)南(nan)省(sheng)的一大特色。該品(pin)種(zhong)(zhong)在(zai)云(yun)(yun)南(nan)省(sheng)的特征(zheng)表現(xian):雄蕊、花(hua)(hua)(hua)托(tuo)、心(xin)(xin)皮全部瓣(ban)化(hua),株高(gao)150—160cm,單花(hua)(hua)(hua)心(xin)(xin),少2花(hua)(hua)(hua)心(xin)(xin),花(hua)(hua)(hua)瓣(ban)1000—1500枚(mei),藕(ou)(ou)(ou)(ou)節細(xi)長,節間長20—30cm,粗3—4cm,3—4節,藕(ou)(ou)(ou)(ou)含(han)纖維較多。引種(zhong)(zhong)回武漢(han)栽(zai)(zai)培(pei)后,由于(yu)氣候差異較大,株高(gao)可(ke)達180—200cm,7—8月開花(hua)(hua)(hua),花(hua)(hua)(hua)多為(wei)2—3花(hua)(hua)(hua)心(xin)(xin),少單花(hua)(hua)(hua)心(xin)(xin),多者可(ke)達5—6花(hua)(hua)(hua)心(xin)(xin),花(hua)(hua)(hua)瓣(ban)數千(qian)(qian)枚(mei),藕(ou)(ou)(ou)(ou)節細(xi)長,主藕(ou)(ou)(ou)(ou)多3—4節,5節以上的藕(ou)(ou)(ou)(ou)所占比例可(ke)達37%,每667m2產量1000kg左右(you)。經測定(ding),鮮(xian)藕(ou)(ou)(ou)(ou)含(han)干物質21.75%、淀粉(fen)1.26%、蛋白質0.55%,VC633.7mg,均高(gao)于(yu)目前推廣(guang)品(pin)種(zhong)(zhong)及地(di)方品(pin)種(zhong)(zhong)。云(yun)(yun)南(nan)地(di)區(qu)的千(qian)(qian)瓣(ban)蓮(lian)(lian)是否存在(zai)分化(hua)尚不清楚(chu),暫將(jiang)之(zhi)定(ding)名為(wei)云(yun)(yun)南(nan)千(qian)(qian)瓣(ban)蓮(lian)(lian)。
云南千瓣(ban)(ban)(ban)蓮(lian)是滇中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)地區傳統的(de)蓮(lian)藕栽(zai)培品種。每年(nian)立春(chun)后(hou)撒秧前(qian)扦(qian)插于平整(zheng)(zheng)水田(tian)(tian)中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong),與秧苗同時出苗生(sheng)長,待秧苗移栽(zai)后(hou)即快速分蘗,遍布覆蓋整(zheng)(zheng)個(ge)水田(tian)(tian)。荷(he)花(hua)(hua)(hua)初出時呈細紡錘(chui)形(xing),外瓣(ban)(ban)(ban)綠色(se),隨著(zhu)花(hua)(hua)(hua)瓣(ban)(ban)(ban)的(de)生(sheng)成(cheng),中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)下(xia)部(bu)漸膨大(da)成(cheng)尖桃形(xing),外部(bu)綠色(se)花(hua)(hua)(hua)瓣(ban)(ban)(ban)依次(ci)(ci)掉落,露出中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)間粉紅色(se)花(hua)(hua)(hua)瓣(ban)(ban)(ban),但(dan)花(hua)(hua)(hua)瓣(ban)(ban)(ban)永不(bu)開放翻轉,只(zhi)是微(wei)松,依次(ci)(ci)少量掉落,直至枯萎,仍是花(hua)(hua)(hua)苞形(xing)狀。頑童摘(zhai)來(lai)玩耍(shua)時,將花(hua)(hua)(hua)瓣(ban)(ban)(ban)依次(ci)(ci)一(yi)頁頁翻開,然花(hua)(hua)(hua)瓣(ban)(ban)(ban)仍不(bu)能窮竟,直至中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)心(xin)(xin)極細小花(hua)(hua)(hua)瓣(ban)(ban)(ban)各自分為(wei)幾簇,攢在(zai)一(yi)起(qi),花(hua)(hua)(hua)中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)并無蓮(lian)蓬,因而也不(bu)結(jie)蓮(lian)子(zi)(zi)。或有大(da)一(yi)些的(de)孩子(zi)(zi),將大(da)花(hua)(hua)(hua)瓣(ban)(ban)(ban)掰下(xia),凹面朝上放于左手拇(mu)指(zhi)和食指(zhi)圍成(cheng)的(de)圈中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong),右掌合攏(long),用力拍花(hua)(hua)(hua)瓣(ban)(ban)(ban)使其花(hua)(hua)(hua)瓣(ban)(ban)(ban)中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)心(xin)(xin)被氣(qi)撐破以發出啪的(de)一(yi)聲,以此為(wei)樂,常(chang)常(chang)多人在(zai)一(yi)起(qi)比賽,以破洞大(da)、聲音(yin)響者為(wei)勝。
近(jin)年因引進外地新(xin)品(pin)(pin)種蓮(lian)藕,此老品(pin)(pin)種千瓣(ban)蓮(lian)栽培(pei)面(mian)積有所減少,但仍是當(dang)地人(ren)民的(de)(de)喜食(shi)品(pin)(pin)種,引進的(de)(de)新(xin)品(pin)(pin)種雖(sui)產(chan)量稍高(gao),但所含營(ying)養及口感大不如(ru)云南千瓣(ban)蓮(lian)。