The Sacred Lotus is an aquatic perennial native to Southeast Asia and is invasive. This plant showcases large, cupped, fragrant, pink or white flowers. The entire plant can be eaten either raw or cooked, offering a source of starch and other nutrients. The cultivation history of the Sacred Lotus traces back over 3,000 years in China. The edible seeds are sold in Colombian markets and is called martillo. Photographed in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta.