Genetic secrets of the culturally prominent lotus plant have been unlocked by researchers from University of Adelaide.
A lotus plant has a biochemical pathway that it can turn on and off to generate and regulate heat like a warm-blooded animal.
It can keep a temperature of around 32-34 degrees for two to three days while the environment temperature changes up to 30 degrees.
Other lotus properties like the production of seeds lasting 1000 years, water repellency and self-cleaning leaf surfaces are being adapted for industrial use.
Read more at University of Adelaide