千(qian)瓣(ban)蓮是荷(he)(he)花(hua)(hua)珍品(pin),古籍(ji)記(ji)載在(zai)中國隋唐時期(qi)即已(yi)出(chu)現。因(yin)其雄蕊、花(hua)(hua)托(tuo)、心皮全部(bu)瓣(ban)化,花(hua)(hua)瓣(ban)重疊,花(hua)(hua)蕾呈桃形,外(wai)瓣(ban)大,內瓣(ban)小,瓣(ban)數常達1500~3000枚,而極具觀(guan)賞價值(zhi)。同一品(pin)種在(zai)不同地區、不同時期(qi)可開出(chu)1~6花(hua)(hua)心的荷(he)(he)花(hua)(hua),單花(hua)(hua)球(qiu)重可達0.5~0.7kg,武漢地區通常在(zai)7~8月開花(hua)(hua)。
千(qian)瓣蓮(lian)(lian)在中國的分(fen)布,一(yi)(yi)(yi)(yi)般認(ren)為源于(yu)2處,一(yi)(yi)(yi)(yi)是江蘇(su)省(sheng)昆(kun)山(shan)縣(xian)紅代鎮(zhen)東亭村“玉(yu)山(shan)佳處”,據(ju)《昆(kun)山(shan)縣(xian)志》記載(zai)“千(qian)瓣蓮(lian)(lian)由元(yuan)朝詩人顧珂瑛(公元(yuan)1310~1360年)種植,歷時(shi)600個春秋于(yu)20世紀40年代重新被發現。今(jin)滬、杭(hang)、寧一(yi)(yi)(yi)(yi)帶引種的千(qian)瓣蓮(lian)(lian)多自昆(kun)山(shan);二是湖(hu)北當陽縣(xian)玉(yu)泉寺,相傳是一(yi)(yi)(yi)(yi)古(gu)僧從(cong)浙江普(pu)陀(tuo)山(shan)引進(jin),現已有18個省(sheng)市自治區逾百(bai)家單位(wei)進(jin)行引種栽培。
除玉泉寺外,千(qian)瓣蓮(lian)作為食(shi)用蓮(lian)藕在云南呈(cheng)貢、玉溪和姚安(an)等(deng)地(di)區(qu)有(you)著大面積栽培。千(qian)瓣蓮(lian)多(duo)(duo)在池(chi)塘或水田(tian)中栽培,蓮(lian)藕產品每年秋冬上市,每667m2產量(liang)可達1000~1250kg。據(ju)觀(guan)測,當地(di)千(qian)瓣蓮(lian)株高140~160cm,葉片長寬(kuan)比(bi)較大;根(gen)狀莖3~4節,第3節長20~25cm,粗5.5~6cm,呈(cheng)長條;花形(xing)多(duo)(duo)為單花心,少許2花心,引(yin)種到武漢后可開出1~6朵花心的花。
在(zai)安寧、富民、姚安、呈貢、玉(yu)溪、宜良等(deng)地區栽(zai)培的蓮(lian)藕(ou)(ou)大部分是(shi)千(qian)瓣(ban)(ban)蓮(lian)。除(chu)云南省(sheng)外,千(qian)瓣(ban)(ban)蓮(lian)只(zhi)在(zai)湖北省(sheng)當(dang)陽縣的玉(yu)泉寺內發現(xian)(xian)有(you)栽(zai)培,武漢(han)郊區亦(yi)有(you)栽(zai)培,作(zuo)觀賞花(hua)蓮(lian),是(shi)佛教的一(yi)種(zhong)象(xiang)征物(wu)。將千(qian)瓣(ban)(ban)蓮(lian)作(zuo)為(wei)(wei)栽(zai)培蓮(lian)藕(ou)(ou)是(shi)云南省(sheng)的一(yi)大特色(se)。該品種(zhong)在(zai)云南省(sheng)的特征表現(xian)(xian):雄(xiong)蕊(rui)、花(hua)托、心(xin)(xin)(xin)皮全部瓣(ban)(ban)化,株高150—160cm,單花(hua)心(xin)(xin)(xin),少2花(hua)心(xin)(xin)(xin),花(hua)瓣(ban)(ban)1000—1500枚,藕(ou)(ou)節細長(chang),節間長(chang)20—30cm,粗3—4cm,3—4節,藕(ou)(ou)含(han)纖維較(jiao)多(duo)。引種(zhong)回武漢(han)栽(zai)培后,由于氣候差異(yi)較(jiao)大,株高可達(da)180—200cm,7—8月開花(hua),花(hua)多(duo)為(wei)(wei)2—3花(hua)心(xin)(xin)(xin),少單花(hua)心(xin)(xin)(xin),多(duo)者可達(da)5—6花(hua)心(xin)(xin)(xin),花(hua)瓣(ban)(ban)數千(qian)枚,藕(ou)(ou)節細長(chang),主藕(ou)(ou)多(duo)3—4節,5節以上的藕(ou)(ou)所占(zhan)比例(li)可達(da)37%,每667m2產量(liang)1000kg左右。經測定(ding),鮮藕(ou)(ou)含(han)干物(wu)質21.75%、淀(dian)粉1.26%、蛋白質0.55%,VC633.7mg,均高于目前推廣品種(zhong)及(ji)地方品種(zhong)。云南地區的千(qian)瓣(ban)(ban)蓮(lian)是(shi)否存在(zai)分化尚不(bu)清楚,暫將之定(ding)名為(wei)(wei)云南千(qian)瓣(ban)(ban)蓮(lian)。
云南千(qian)瓣(ban)(ban)(ban)蓮(lian)(lian)是滇(dian)中(zhong)地(di)區(qu)傳統(tong)的蓮(lian)(lian)藕栽培品種(zhong)。每年立(li)春后撒(sa)秧前扦插于平整水田中(zhong),與秧苗同(tong)時出(chu)苗生長,待秧苗移栽后即快速分蘗,遍布(bu)覆(fu)蓋整個水田。荷花(hua)初出(chu)時呈細(xi)紡錘形,外瓣(ban)(ban)(ban)綠色,隨著花(hua)瓣(ban)(ban)(ban)的生成,中(zhong)下部(bu)漸膨大(da)(da)成尖桃形,外部(bu)綠色花(hua)瓣(ban)(ban)(ban)依次(ci)(ci)掉落,露出(chu)中(zhong)間粉紅色花(hua)瓣(ban)(ban)(ban),但花(hua)瓣(ban)(ban)(ban)永(yong)不開放翻(fan)轉,只(zhi)是微(wei)松,依次(ci)(ci)少(shao)量掉落,直至枯萎,仍是花(hua)苞形狀。頑童摘來玩耍時,將花(hua)瓣(ban)(ban)(ban)依次(ci)(ci)一(yi)(yi)頁(ye)頁(ye)翻(fan)開,然花(hua)瓣(ban)(ban)(ban)仍不能窮竟(jing),直至中(zhong)心(xin)極細(xi)小花(hua)瓣(ban)(ban)(ban)各自分為幾(ji)簇,攢在一(yi)(yi)起(qi),花(hua)中(zhong)并(bing)無蓮(lian)(lian)蓬(peng),因而也(ye)不結蓮(lian)(lian)子。或有大(da)(da)一(yi)(yi)些(xie)的孩子,將大(da)(da)花(hua)瓣(ban)(ban)(ban)掰下,凹(ao)面朝上放于左(zuo)手(shou)拇指和食(shi)指圍成的圈中(zhong),右掌合攏(long),用力拍花(hua)瓣(ban)(ban)(ban)使其(qi)花(hua)瓣(ban)(ban)(ban)中(zhong)心(xin)被氣撐破以發出(chu)啪的一(yi)(yi)聲,以此為樂,常常多人在一(yi)(yi)起(qi)比賽,以破洞大(da)(da)、聲音(yin)響者為勝(sheng)。
近(jin)年因引(yin)進(jin)外地新品種(zhong)蓮藕,此老品種(zhong)千(qian)瓣蓮栽培面積有(you)所(suo)減少(shao),但仍是當(dang)地人民的(de)喜食(shi)品種(zhong),引(yin)進(jin)的(de)新品種(zhong)雖產量稍(shao)高,但所(suo)含(han)營養及口(kou)感大(da)不(bu)如云(yun)南(nan)千(qian)瓣蓮。