One cupule on a lotus plant can produce more than 20 seeds. The water lily, on the other hand, produces a fruit, encasing many seeds within. A ball-shaped stem in the mud produces sprouts, but does not produce "lotus seeds," nor does it produce rhizomes (rootstalks).
荷花一個蓮蓬多可長出二十幾粒果實（蓮子）；睡蓮則是一個果實，包藏著許多小種子，以球形塊莖在池泥中發芽，既不生「蓮子」、也不產「蓮藕」。