千瓣(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)蓮是(shi)荷(he)花(hua)(hua)珍品,古(gu)籍記載(zai)在中國(guo)隋唐時(shi)期即(ji)已出(chu)現(xian)。因其雄蕊、花(hua)(hua)托、心皮全部瓣(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)化,花(hua)(hua)瓣(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)重疊,花(hua)(hua)蕾呈桃形(xing),外瓣(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)大,內瓣(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)小,瓣(ban)(ban)(ban)(ban)數常達(da)1500~3000枚,而極具觀(guan)賞價值。同(tong)一品種在不同(tong)地區(qu)、不同(tong)時(shi)期可(ke)開出(chu)1~6花(hua)(hua)心的荷(he)花(hua)(hua),單花(hua)(hua)球重可(ke)達(da)0.5~0.7kg,武漢地區(qu)通常在7~8月開花(hua)(hua)。
千(qian)瓣蓮在(zai)中國的(de)(de)分布(bu),一(yi)(yi)般認為源于(yu)2處,一(yi)(yi)是(shi)(shi)江(jiang)蘇省昆山(shan)(shan)縣(xian)紅代鎮(zhen)東亭村“玉山(shan)(shan)佳處”,據《昆山(shan)(shan)縣(xian)志(zhi)》記載“千(qian)瓣蓮由(you)元(yuan)(yuan)朝詩人顧(gu)珂瑛(公元(yuan)(yuan)1310~1360年)種(zhong)植,歷時600個春秋于(yu)20世紀40年代重新被發現。今滬(hu)、杭、寧一(yi)(yi)帶(dai)引種(zhong)的(de)(de)千(qian)瓣蓮多自昆山(shan)(shan);二是(shi)(shi)湖(hu)北當陽(yang)縣(xian)玉泉寺(si),相傳是(shi)(shi)一(yi)(yi)古(gu)僧從浙江(jiang)普陀山(shan)(shan)引進,現已有18個省市自治區逾百家單位進行引種(zhong)栽(zai)培。
除玉(yu)(yu)泉(quan)寺(si)外,千(qian)瓣蓮(lian)作為食用(yong)蓮(lian)藕在云南(nan)呈(cheng)貢(gong)、玉(yu)(yu)溪和姚安等地(di)區有著(zhu)大面積栽(zai)(zai)培。千(qian)瓣蓮(lian)多在池塘或水(shui)田中栽(zai)(zai)培,蓮(lian)藕產品(pin)每年秋冬上市,每667m2產量(liang)可(ke)達1000~1250kg。據觀測,當地(di)千(qian)瓣蓮(lian)株高140~160cm,葉片長(chang)(chang)寬(kuan)比(bi)較大;根狀莖3~4節,第3節長(chang)(chang)20~25cm,粗5.5~6cm,呈(cheng)長(chang)(chang)條;花形多為單(dan)花心(xin),少許(xu)2花心(xin),引種到武漢后可(ke)開出1~6朵(duo)花心(xin)的花。
在安(an)寧、富民(min)、姚安(an)、呈(cheng)貢、玉(yu)溪、宜(yi)良等地(di)區栽(zai)(zai)(zai)培的(de)蓮(lian)(lian)藕(ou)大(da)部分是千(qian)(qian)瓣(ban)(ban)蓮(lian)(lian)。除云(yun)(yun)(yun)南(nan)省外,千(qian)(qian)瓣(ban)(ban)蓮(lian)(lian)只在湖(hu)北省當陽縣的(de)玉(yu)泉(quan)寺內(nei)發現(xian)有(you)栽(zai)(zai)(zai)培,武漢郊區亦(yi)有(you)栽(zai)(zai)(zai)培,作(zuo)觀賞(shang)花(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)蓮(lian)(lian),是佛教的(de)一種(zhong)象征(zheng)物。將千(qian)(qian)瓣(ban)(ban)蓮(lian)(lian)作(zuo)為(wei)(wei)栽(zai)(zai)(zai)培蓮(lian)(lian)藕(ou)是云(yun)(yun)(yun)南(nan)省的(de)一大(da)特色。該(gai)品種(zhong)在云(yun)(yun)(yun)南(nan)省的(de)特征(zheng)表(biao)現(xian):雄蕊、花(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)托、心(xin)皮全部瓣(ban)(ban)化,株高150—160cm,單(dan)花(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)心(xin),少(shao)(shao)2花(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)心(xin),花(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)瓣(ban)(ban)1000—1500枚(mei)(mei),藕(ou)節細長(chang),節間(jian)長(chang)20—30cm,粗3—4cm,3—4節,藕(ou)含(han)(han)纖(xian)維較(jiao)多(duo)。引(yin)種(zhong)回武漢栽(zai)(zai)(zai)培后,由于(yu)氣候差異較(jiao)大(da),株高可(ke)(ke)達(da)180—200cm,7—8月開花(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua),花(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)多(duo)為(wei)(wei)2—3花(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)心(xin),少(shao)(shao)單(dan)花(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)心(xin),多(duo)者可(ke)(ke)達(da)5—6花(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)心(xin),花(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)瓣(ban)(ban)數千(qian)(qian)枚(mei)(mei),藕(ou)節細長(chang),主藕(ou)多(duo)3—4節,5節以上的(de)藕(ou)所占(zhan)比(bi)例可(ke)(ke)達(da)37%,每667m2產量1000kg左右。經測定(ding)(ding),鮮藕(ou)含(han)(han)干物質21.75%、淀粉(fen)1.26%、蛋(dan)白質0.55%,VC633.7mg,均高于(yu)目前推廣品種(zhong)及地(di)方品種(zhong)。云(yun)(yun)(yun)南(nan)地(di)區的(de)千(qian)(qian)瓣(ban)(ban)蓮(lian)(lian)是否(fou)存在分化尚不(bu)清楚,暫將之定(ding)(ding)名(ming)為(wei)(wei)云(yun)(yun)(yun)南(nan)千(qian)(qian)瓣(ban)(ban)蓮(lian)(lian)。
云南千瓣(ban)蓮(lian)(lian)是滇中(zhong)(zhong)地區傳(chuan)統的(de)蓮(lian)(lian)藕栽培品種。每(mei)年立春(chun)后撒秧(yang)前(qian)扦插于(yu)平整水田中(zhong)(zhong),與秧(yang)苗(miao)同時(shi)(shi)出苗(miao)生長(chang),待秧(yang)苗(miao)移栽后即快(kuai)速(su)分蘗(bo),遍布覆蓋整個水田。荷花(hua)(hua)(hua)初出時(shi)(shi)呈細紡錘形(xing),外瓣(ban)綠色(se),隨著花(hua)(hua)(hua)瓣(ban)的(de)生成(cheng),中(zhong)(zhong)下部漸膨大成(cheng)尖桃形(xing),外部綠色(se)花(hua)(hua)(hua)瓣(ban)依次掉落,露出中(zhong)(zhong)間粉紅色(se)花(hua)(hua)(hua)瓣(ban),但(dan)花(hua)(hua)(hua)瓣(ban)永不開放翻轉,只是微松,依次少量掉落,直至枯萎,仍是花(hua)(hua)(hua)苞形(xing)狀(zhuang)。頑童摘來玩耍(shua)時(shi)(shi),將花(hua)(hua)(hua)瓣(ban)依次一頁(ye)頁(ye)翻開,然花(hua)(hua)(hua)瓣(ban)仍不能(neng)窮竟,直至中(zhong)(zhong)心極細小花(hua)(hua)(hua)瓣(ban)各自分為幾簇,攢(zan)在一起(qi),花(hua)(hua)(hua)中(zhong)(zhong)并(bing)無蓮(lian)(lian)蓬,因(yin)而也不結蓮(lian)(lian)子(zi)。或(huo)有大一些的(de)孩子(zi),將大花(hua)(hua)(hua)瓣(ban)掰下,凹面朝上放于(yu)左手拇(mu)指和食指圍成(cheng)的(de)圈(quan)中(zhong)(zhong),右掌(zhang)合攏,用力(li)拍花(hua)(hua)(hua)瓣(ban)使(shi)其花(hua)(hua)(hua)瓣(ban)中(zhong)(zhong)心被(bei)氣撐(cheng)破以(yi)發出啪的(de)一聲(sheng),以(yi)此為樂,常(chang)常(chang)多人(ren)在一起(qi)比賽,以(yi)破洞大、聲(sheng)音(yin)響者為勝。
近年因(yin)引進(jin)外地(di)新品種蓮藕,此(ci)老品種千(qian)瓣(ban)蓮栽培面(mian)積(ji)有所減少,但仍是當地(di)人民(min)的(de)喜食品種,引進(jin)的(de)新品種雖產(chan)量稍(shao)高,但所含營(ying)養及口感大(da)不如云南千(qian)瓣(ban)蓮。