National Flower of Sri Lanka

The National Flower of Sri Lanka is blue water lily flower (Nymphaea Stellata). It is also known as a synonym of Nymphaea nouchali Burm. f. This native flower is recognized for its pale blue petals. It grows in shallow waters across the island, and it was officially declared the national flower on 26th February 1986. The flower is of endemic nature, with cultural importance and utility.

Local Names and Varieties

In Sri Lanka, the Blue Water Lily is commonly called Mahanel / Manel (මානෙල්) in Sinhala. However, some people mistakenly refer to it as Nil Manel or Nil Mahanel. In Tamil, the flower is known as Aambal (ஆம்பல்), Neelambal (நீலாம்பல்), or Neelothpalam (நீலோற்பலம்).

The Blue Water Lily belongs to the species Nymphaea nouchali, which has seven distinct varieties. This flower is not just admired for its beauty but also holds symbolic significance in various cultures.

Significance in Buddhism

The Blue Water Lily is deeply rooted in Sri Lankan culture and is considered a symbol of truth, purity, and discipline. In Buddhist tradition, the flower is associated with the virtues of the Buddha. It has been a ceremonial flower for centuries, especially in Sri Lanka, where it represents enlightenment and spiritual purity. The flower’s connection to the Buddha is profound: it is said that the Blue Water Lily is one of the 108 auspicious symbols found on Prince Siddhartha’s footprint.

In both Buddhism and Hinduism, water lilies are symbols of rebirth. These flowers close at night and bloom again each morning, signifying the cycle of life. They also rise out of the mud, symbolizing enlightenment and the overcoming of adversity.

Medicinal and Culinary Uses

The Blue Water Lily has multiple uses in Sri Lanka and beyond. It is considered a medicinal plant in Ayurveda, used for its soothing and healing properties. The plant is also an ornamental favorite in Sri Lanka, often used in cultural and religious festivals. The flower has historical significance, with depictions found in ancient frescoes at Sigiriya, where it is shown on the hairdos of female celestial figures, or apsaras.

The tubers of the Blue Water Lily are edible and have been used as famine food in several regions. In Sri Lanka by the 1940s, some villagers began cultivating them in abandoned paddy fields. Today, they are boiled or used in curries. The tubers are rich in starch and have been consumed in other countries, such as India and West Africa.

Mistaken Identity

While the Blue Water Lily is a pale blue flower, there has been confusion due to the use of a different image in official representations. The Sri Lankan government, including the official website, has mistakenly used an image of a larger, colorful variety of water lily to represent the Blue Water Lily. The Sri Lanka Philatelic Bureau, for instance, issued a stamp featuring an incorrect flower. The image on the stamp shows a larger, blue-purple water lily, which is often confused with the native Blue Water Lily.

This purple flower, however, is not the same as Nymphaea Stellata and is a different species entirely. Over time, the public and officials have mistakenly accepted this purple water lily as the true representation of Sri Lanka’s national flower.

Key Differences Between the Blue and Purple Water Lilies

There are notable differences between the Blue Water Lily and the purple water lily, even though both belong to the same genus. The Blue Water Lily (Nymphaea Stellata) has fewer petals, stamens, stigmatic heads, and carpals compared to the purple variety. Additionally, the Blue Water Lily typically grows in smaller, natural water bodies, while the purple variety is more commonly found in larger tanks.

Another clear distinction is in their habitats. The Blue Water Lily is found in all three climatic zones of Sri Lanka: dry, intermediate, and wet. On the other hand, the purple water lily thrives mainly in the dry zone. This further highlights the differences between the two species.

The book Flora of Ceylon describes the color of the Blue Water Lily as “pale violet or pale blue fading to a dull blue, yellowish at base.”