Nymphaea nouchali, often known by itsàsynonymàNymphaea stellata, or byàcommon namesàblue lotus,[1]àstar lotus,[citation needed]àred and blue water lily,àblue star water lilyàoràmanel floweràis aàwater lilyàof genusàNymphaea. It is native to southern and eastern parts of Asia, and is theànational floweràofàSri LankaàandàBangladesh. In Sanscrit it isàutpala. This species is sometimes considered to include the blue Egyptian lotusàNymphaea caerulea.[2]àIn the past, taxonomic confusion has occurred, with the nameàNymphaea nouchaliàincorrectly applied toàNymphaea pubescens.[3]
 
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