千瓣(ban)蓮(lian)是荷花(hua)(hua)(hua)珍品,古籍記載在(zai)中國隋唐(tang)時(shi)期即已(yi)出現。因其雄蕊、花(hua)(hua)(hua)托(tuo)、心皮全部瓣(ban)化,花(hua)(hua)(hua)瓣(ban)重疊(die),花(hua)(hua)(hua)蕾呈(cheng)桃(tao)形(xing),外瓣(ban)大,內瓣(ban)小,瓣(ban)數常(chang)達1500~3000枚,而極具觀(guan)賞價值。同(tong)一品種在(zai)不(bu)同(tong)地區、不(bu)同(tong)時(shi)期可開出1~6花(hua)(hua)(hua)心的荷花(hua)(hua)(hua),單花(hua)(hua)(hua)球重可達0.5~0.7kg,武(wu)漢(han)地區通常(chang)在(zai)7~8月開花(hua)(hua)(hua)。
千瓣蓮(lian)在中(zhong)國的(de)分布,一般認為源于2處,一是(shi)(shi)江蘇省昆山(shan)縣(xian)(xian)紅(hong)代鎮東亭村“玉山(shan)佳處”,據《昆山(shan)縣(xian)(xian)志(zhi)》記載(zai)“千瓣蓮(lian)由元朝詩人顧(gu)珂瑛(公元1310~1360年(nian))種植,歷時600個春秋于20世紀(ji)40年(nian)代重新被(bei)發現。今滬、杭、寧一帶引(yin)種的(de)千瓣蓮(lian)多自昆山(shan);二(er)是(shi)(shi)湖北當陽縣(xian)(xian)玉泉寺,相傳是(shi)(shi)一古僧從浙江普(pu)陀山(shan)引(yin)進(jin),現已有(you)18個省市(shi)自治區逾百家單位進(jin)行(xing)引(yin)種栽培(pei)。
除玉泉寺(si)外,千瓣蓮(lian)作為食(shi)用蓮(lian)藕(ou)在(zai)云(yun)南(nan)呈(cheng)貢、玉溪和姚安等(deng)地(di)區(qu)有(you)著大面積栽培。千瓣蓮(lian)多(duo)在(zai)池(chi)塘或水(shui)田中栽培,蓮(lian)藕(ou)產(chan)(chan)品(pin)每年(nian)秋冬上市(shi),每667m2產(chan)(chan)量可達1000~1250kg。據觀測,當地(di)千瓣蓮(lian)株高(gao)140~160cm,葉片長(chang)寬比較大;根狀莖3~4節(jie),第3節(jie)長(chang)20~25cm,粗5.5~6cm,呈(cheng)長(chang)條;花形多(duo)為單花心(xin),少(shao)許2花心(xin),引種到武漢(han)后可開出1~6朵花心(xin)的花。
在(zai)安(an)寧、富民、姚安(an)、呈貢、玉溪、宜(yi)良(liang)等地(di)區(qu)栽(zai)(zai)培(pei)的蓮(lian)(lian)藕(ou)(ou)大(da)部分(fen)是(shi)(shi)(shi)千瓣(ban)(ban)蓮(lian)(lian)。除云(yun)(yun)南(nan)(nan)省(sheng)(sheng)外,千瓣(ban)(ban)蓮(lian)(lian)只在(zai)湖北省(sheng)(sheng)當陽縣的玉泉寺內發現有栽(zai)(zai)培(pei),武漢(han)(han)郊區(qu)亦有栽(zai)(zai)培(pei),作觀賞(shang)花(hua)(hua)(hua)蓮(lian)(lian),是(shi)(shi)(shi)佛教(jiao)的一種(zhong)象征物(wu)。將千瓣(ban)(ban)蓮(lian)(lian)作為栽(zai)(zai)培(pei)蓮(lian)(lian)藕(ou)(ou)是(shi)(shi)(shi)云(yun)(yun)南(nan)(nan)省(sheng)(sheng)的一大(da)特(te)色(se)。該品種(zhong)在(zai)云(yun)(yun)南(nan)(nan)省(sheng)(sheng)的特(te)征表現:雄蕊、花(hua)(hua)(hua)托、心(xin)皮全部瓣(ban)(ban)化,株高(gao)150—160cm,單花(hua)(hua)(hua)心(xin),少2花(hua)(hua)(hua)心(xin),花(hua)(hua)(hua)瓣(ban)(ban)1000—1500枚(mei),藕(ou)(ou)節(jie)細長,節(jie)間長20—30cm,粗3—4cm,3—4節(jie),藕(ou)(ou)含纖(xian)維較多(duo)。引種(zhong)回武漢(han)(han)栽(zai)(zai)培(pei)后,由于(yu)(yu)氣候差(cha)異較大(da),株高(gao)可達(da)(da)(da)180—200cm,7—8月(yue)開花(hua)(hua)(hua),花(hua)(hua)(hua)多(duo)為2—3花(hua)(hua)(hua)心(xin),少單花(hua)(hua)(hua)心(xin),多(duo)者可達(da)(da)(da)5—6花(hua)(hua)(hua)心(xin),花(hua)(hua)(hua)瓣(ban)(ban)數千枚(mei),藕(ou)(ou)節(jie)細長,主(zhu)藕(ou)(ou)多(duo)3—4節(jie),5節(jie)以上的藕(ou)(ou)所占比例可達(da)(da)(da)37%,每667m2產量(liang)1000kg左右。經測定,鮮(xian)藕(ou)(ou)含干(gan)物(wu)質21.75%、淀粉1.26%、蛋白質0.55%,VC633.7mg,均(jun)高(gao)于(yu)(yu)目前推廣(guang)品種(zhong)及地(di)方品種(zhong)。云(yun)(yun)南(nan)(nan)地(di)區(qu)的千瓣(ban)(ban)蓮(lian)(lian)是(shi)(shi)(shi)否(fou)存在(zai)分(fen)化尚(shang)不清楚,暫(zan)將之定名為云(yun)(yun)南(nan)(nan)千瓣(ban)(ban)蓮(lian)(lian)。
云南千(qian)瓣蓮(lian)是滇中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)地區傳統的(de)(de)蓮(lian)藕(ou)栽培(pei)品種。每年立春后撒秧前扦插于(yu)(yu)平(ping)整(zheng)水(shui)田中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong),與(yu)秧苗同時出(chu)苗生長,待秧苗移栽后即快速分(fen)蘗,遍布(bu)覆蓋整(zheng)個水(shui)田。荷花初(chu)出(chu)時呈細(xi)紡錘形(xing),外(wai)瓣綠(lv)色,隨著(zhu)花瓣的(de)(de)生成(cheng),中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)下(xia)(xia)部(bu)漸(jian)膨大(da)成(cheng)尖(jian)桃形(xing),外(wai)部(bu)綠(lv)色花瓣依次(ci)掉(diao)落,露出(chu)中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)間粉紅色花瓣,但(dan)花瓣永不開放翻轉,只是微松,依次(ci)少量掉(diao)落,直(zhi)至枯萎(wei),仍是花苞形(xing)狀。頑童摘來玩耍時,將(jiang)花瓣依次(ci)一(yi)頁頁翻開,然花瓣仍不能窮竟,直(zhi)至中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)心(xin)(xin)極細(xi)小花瓣各自(zi)分(fen)為(wei)(wei)幾(ji)簇,攢在一(yi)起,花中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)并無蓮(lian)蓬,因而也不結蓮(lian)子(zi)。或有(you)大(da)一(yi)些(xie)的(de)(de)孩子(zi),將(jiang)大(da)花瓣掰下(xia)(xia),凹面朝上(shang)放于(yu)(yu)左手拇指(zhi)(zhi)和食(shi)指(zhi)(zhi)圍成(cheng)的(de)(de)圈中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong),右掌(zhang)合攏,用力拍花瓣使其(qi)花瓣中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)心(xin)(xin)被氣(qi)撐破以(yi)發出(chu)啪的(de)(de)一(yi)聲(sheng),以(yi)此(ci)為(wei)(wei)樂(le),常(chang)常(chang)多人在一(yi)起比賽,以(yi)破洞大(da)、聲(sheng)音(yin)響者(zhe)為(wei)(wei)勝。
近年因引(yin)進(jin)外(wai)地新品種(zhong)蓮藕,此老品種(zhong)千瓣蓮栽培面積有所(suo)減少,但仍是當地人(ren)民的喜食(shi)品種(zhong),引(yin)進(jin)的新品種(zhong)雖(sui)產量稍高,但所(suo)含營養及(ji)口(kou)感大不如云南千瓣蓮。