千瓣(ban)(ban)蓮是荷花(hua)珍品,古籍記載在中國隋唐(tang)時期即已出(chu)(chu)現。因其雄(xiong)蕊、花(hua)托、心皮全(quan)部(bu)瓣(ban)(ban)化,花(hua)瓣(ban)(ban)重疊,花(hua)蕾呈桃形,外瓣(ban)(ban)大,內瓣(ban)(ban)小,瓣(ban)(ban)數常達(da)1500~3000枚,而極具觀賞價值。同(tong)一品種在不同(tong)地區(qu)、不同(tong)時期可(ke)開(kai)出(chu)(chu)1~6花(hua)心的(de)荷花(hua),單花(hua)球重可(ke)達(da)0.5~0.7kg,武漢(han)地區(qu)通常在7~8月開(kai)花(hua)。
千瓣(ban)蓮在中國的分布,一(yi)般認為源(yuan)于(yu)2處,一(yi)是(shi)江蘇省(sheng)昆山(shan)縣(xian)(xian)紅代(dai)鎮東亭村“玉山(shan)佳處”,據《昆山(shan)縣(xian)(xian)志》記載(zai)“千瓣(ban)蓮由元朝詩人顧珂瑛(公(gong)元1310~1360年)種(zhong)(zhong)植,歷時600個(ge)春秋(qiu)于(yu)20世紀40年代(dai)重(zhong)新被發現(xian)。今(jin)滬、杭、寧一(yi)帶引種(zhong)(zhong)的千瓣(ban)蓮多自昆山(shan);二是(shi)湖北(bei)當陽縣(xian)(xian)玉泉(quan)寺,相(xiang)傳是(shi)一(yi)古(gu)僧(seng)從(cong)浙江普陀山(shan)引進,現(xian)已有18個(ge)省(sheng)市(shi)自治區(qu)逾百家單(dan)位進行引種(zhong)(zhong)栽培(pei)。
除玉(yu)泉寺(si)外(wai),千瓣(ban)(ban)蓮(lian)作(zuo)為(wei)(wei)食用蓮(lian)藕(ou)在(zai)云(yun)南呈貢、玉(yu)溪和姚安等地區(qu)有著(zhu)大(da)面積栽(zai)培。千瓣(ban)(ban)蓮(lian)多(duo)在(zai)池(chi)塘或水田中(zhong)栽(zai)培,蓮(lian)藕(ou)產品每年秋冬上市,每667m2產量可達1000~1250kg。據觀測,當地千瓣(ban)(ban)蓮(lian)株高140~160cm,葉片(pian)長(chang)寬比較大(da);根狀莖(jing)3~4節,第3節長(chang)20~25cm,粗5.5~6cm,呈長(chang)條;花形多(duo)為(wei)(wei)單花心,少許2花心,引種到(dao)武(wu)漢后(hou)可開出(chu)1~6朵花心的花。
在(zai)(zai)安寧(ning)、富民、姚安、呈貢、玉溪、宜(yi)良等地區(qu)栽(zai)培的(de)蓮(lian)藕(ou)大部(bu)(bu)分是(shi)千瓣(ban)蓮(lian)。除云南省外,千瓣(ban)蓮(lian)只在(zai)(zai)湖北省當陽縣的(de)玉泉寺內(nei)發現有栽(zai)培,武(wu)漢郊區(qu)亦有栽(zai)培,作觀(guan)賞花(hua)(hua)(hua)蓮(lian),是(shi)佛教的(de)一(yi)(yi)種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)象征(zheng)(zheng)物。將千瓣(ban)蓮(lian)作為栽(zai)培蓮(lian)藕(ou)是(shi)云南省的(de)一(yi)(yi)大特色。該品(pin)(pin)種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)在(zai)(zai)云南省的(de)特征(zheng)(zheng)表(biao)現:雄蕊、花(hua)(hua)(hua)托、心(xin)(xin)皮全部(bu)(bu)瓣(ban)化,株(zhu)高(gao)150—160cm,單花(hua)(hua)(hua)心(xin)(xin),少2花(hua)(hua)(hua)心(xin)(xin),花(hua)(hua)(hua)瓣(ban)1000—1500枚,藕(ou)節(jie)細長,節(jie)間長20—30cm,粗3—4cm,3—4節(jie),藕(ou)含(han)(han)纖維較多(duo)。引種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)回(hui)武(wu)漢栽(zai)培后,由于氣候差(cha)異較大,株(zhu)高(gao)可(ke)(ke)達(da)180—200cm,7—8月開花(hua)(hua)(hua),花(hua)(hua)(hua)多(duo)為2—3花(hua)(hua)(hua)心(xin)(xin),少單花(hua)(hua)(hua)心(xin)(xin),多(duo)者可(ke)(ke)達(da)5—6花(hua)(hua)(hua)心(xin)(xin),花(hua)(hua)(hua)瓣(ban)數千枚,藕(ou)節(jie)細長,主(zhu)藕(ou)多(duo)3—4節(jie),5節(jie)以上(shang)的(de)藕(ou)所(suo)占比例可(ke)(ke)達(da)37%,每(mei)667m2產(chan)量1000kg左右(you)。經測定,鮮藕(ou)含(han)(han)干物質(zhi)(zhi)21.75%、淀粉1.26%、蛋白(bai)質(zhi)(zhi)0.55%,VC633.7mg,均高(gao)于目前推廣品(pin)(pin)種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)及地方品(pin)(pin)種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)。云南地區(qu)的(de)千瓣(ban)蓮(lian)是(shi)否存(cun)在(zai)(zai)分化尚(shang)不清楚,暫將之定名為云南千瓣(ban)蓮(lian)。
云南(nan)千(qian)瓣(ban)(ban)蓮(lian)是滇中(zhong)(zhong)地區傳統的(de)蓮(lian)藕栽(zai)培品種。每年立春后(hou)撒秧(yang)(yang)前扦插于平整(zheng)水(shui)田(tian)中(zhong)(zhong),與(yu)秧(yang)(yang)苗同時(shi)出(chu)苗生長,待(dai)秧(yang)(yang)苗移栽(zai)后(hou)即快速分蘗(bo),遍(bian)布覆蓋整(zheng)個水(shui)田(tian)。荷花(hua)(hua)(hua)初出(chu)時(shi)呈(cheng)細紡(fang)錘形,外瓣(ban)(ban)綠(lv)色,隨著(zhu)花(hua)(hua)(hua)瓣(ban)(ban)的(de)生成,中(zhong)(zhong)下部漸膨大(da)成尖(jian)桃形,外部綠(lv)色花(hua)(hua)(hua)瓣(ban)(ban)依次掉落,露出(chu)中(zhong)(zhong)間(jian)粉紅色花(hua)(hua)(hua)瓣(ban)(ban),但(dan)花(hua)(hua)(hua)瓣(ban)(ban)永不開(kai)(kai)放(fang)翻轉,只是微松(song),依次少量(liang)掉落,直(zhi)至枯萎,仍(reng)是花(hua)(hua)(hua)苞形狀。頑(wan)童摘來玩耍時(shi),將(jiang)花(hua)(hua)(hua)瓣(ban)(ban)依次一頁頁翻開(kai)(kai),然花(hua)(hua)(hua)瓣(ban)(ban)仍(reng)不能窮(qiong)竟,直(zhi)至中(zhong)(zhong)心極細小花(hua)(hua)(hua)瓣(ban)(ban)各自(zi)分為(wei)(wei)幾簇(cu),攢在一起,花(hua)(hua)(hua)中(zhong)(zhong)并無蓮(lian)蓬,因而(er)也不結蓮(lian)子。或有大(da)一些的(de)孩(hai)子,將(jiang)大(da)花(hua)(hua)(hua)瓣(ban)(ban)掰下,凹面朝(chao)上(shang)放(fang)于左手拇指和食(shi)指圍成的(de)圈中(zhong)(zhong),右掌合攏,用(yong)力拍花(hua)(hua)(hua)瓣(ban)(ban)使其花(hua)(hua)(hua)瓣(ban)(ban)中(zhong)(zhong)心被(bei)氣撐破以發出(chu)啪的(de)一聲,以此為(wei)(wei)樂,常常多人在一起比賽,以破洞大(da)、聲音(yin)響者(zhe)為(wei)(wei)勝。
近年因引進(jin)外(wai)地新品(pin)(pin)種蓮(lian)藕,此(ci)老品(pin)(pin)種千瓣(ban)蓮(lian)栽培面積有(you)所減少,但(dan)仍是當地人(ren)民的(de)喜食品(pin)(pin)種,引進(jin)的(de)新品(pin)(pin)種雖產(chan)量稍高,但(dan)所含營養及口感大不如云(yun)南千瓣(ban)蓮(lian)。