The flower is called Tian Shan Snow Lotus, a lotus that grows on snowy mountains. This flower has been spotted blooming amidst the cold and snowy peaks, a truly remarkable sight. The Snow Lotus is not just a fictional creation of Chinese wuxia novels, with its magical properties of rejuvenation and enhanced physical strength, but it also exists in reality, thriving in the harshest of environments and is considered a treasure of the snowy mountains.
A Legendary Flower Comes to Life
Once considered a mythical flower, the existence of the Tian Shan Snow Lotus was officially confirmed by scientists in 2018 on the peaks of the Tian Shan Mountains in China. In 2020, it was again spotted in the Gobi Dzungarian region, on Mount Baitag Bogd in Mongolia, about 250km away from Tian Shan. These findings solidified that the Snow Lotus is not just a cultural symbol but also an extremely rare biological entity.
What makes this flower even more unique is its incredibly slow growth cycle. The Snow Lotus takes 5-7 years to bloom, and each bloom only lasts for a few days. This makes the search and collection of these flowers a challenging and time-consuming endeavor.
Pristine Beauty and Robust Vitality
The Tian Shan Snow Lotus captivates with its ethereal appearance, standing out with its unique beauty. The petals are usually white with a hint of yellow, and the stamens shine with a reddish-purple hue, creating a stunning contrast against the snowy backdrop. These flowers grow from the cracks of rocks, on perpetually snow-covered peaks at altitudes of 2,500–4,000 meters, where very few organisms can survive due to the harsh conditions.
The Snow Lotus only germinates at 0°C, grows at temperatures between 3–5°C, and can withstand temperatures as low as −21°C. With a germination rate of only about 5%, this flower’s resilience and value are undeniable.
Legendary Benefits and Uses
In folklore, the Snow Lotus is associated with fascinating tales. It is believed that consuming just one of these flowers can protect the body from the cold and even reverse aging. The image of martial arts masters in Chinese wuxia novels consuming the Snow Lotus to increase their internal energy and heal their wounds is deeply ingrained in the minds of enthusiasts.
While most of these miraculous effects remain in the realm of legend, the Snow Lotus is still considered a valuable herb in traditional medicine. According to traditional medicine practices, this flower is believed to help treat kidney deficiencies, back pain, rheumatism, improve blood circulation, and more. During its blooming season (July–August), people often collect the flowers to dry and preserve their medicinal properties.
High Economic Value and Endangered Status
Due to its slow growth rate, harsh growing environment, and demand in traditional medicine, the Snow Lotus commands a high price in the market. Cultivated ones in China can cost a few dozen yuan per flower, but naturally grown ones harvested from the mountains can fetch hundreds or even thousands of yuan. In Vietnam, some wealthy individuals have been known to pay 4–5 million VND per flower or 100–120 million VND per kilogram when bought in bulk.
Overexploitation has led to a severe threat to the existence of this flower. In 2020, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) raised concerns about the Snow Lotus’s endangered status due to excessive harvesting for traditional medicine. China has also listed this flower as a specially protected wild plant.
Today, travelers to Tibet and Xinjiang still hope to catch a glimpse of the Snow Lotus, a flower that embodies elegance amidst the cold and snowy mountains. Beyond its rarity, the Snow Lotus symbolizes resilience, enduring harsh conditions to bloom magnificently, representing strength, purity, and nobility.
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