What's the difference between a Lotus Flower and a Water LIlly ?

Everyone has a tattoo of them and some call it a lilly, others call it a lotus... Someone tell me what the difference is...

What's the difference between a Lotus Flower and a Water LIlly ?
Botanically, lotus and water lily are different plants. Waterlilies have lily pads that float on the surface; lotuses (loti?) have leaves that are held above the water, and blooms that are much larger than water lilies, and most often pink. Both have beautiful flowers. People call the water lily a "lotus" sometimes, as noted here in answers.com:



lo·tus also lo·tos (lō't?s)

n.

An aquatic plant (Nelumbo nucifera) native to southern Asia and Australia, having large leaves, fragrant, pinkish flowers, a broad, rounded, perforated seedpod, and fleshy rhizomes.

The edible seed, leaf, or rhizome of this plant.

Any of several similar or related plants, such as the water lilies Nymphaea caerula or N. lotus.



water lily

n.

Any of various cosmopolitan aquatic herbs of the genus Nymphaea, having floating leaves and showy, variously colored flowers, especially N. odorata, with fragrant many-petaled white or pinkish flowers. Also called pond lily.



There's a really good description at http://www.certifiedaquascapecontractor.... , from which I cut these two paragraphs:



"Lilies are the most popular of all water garden plants. Their ability to spread a multitude of leaves across the surface of the water and flower throughout the season, make them a sought after addition to the pond. Lily pads also provide a great deal of shade from the heat of the summer sun, allowing fish to retreat underneath the shelter of their leaves. And they come in a variety of forms.



Lotus have circular leaves that are held high above the water and flowers that rise above the leaves with fragrant, beautiful blooms of yellow, pink, rose, red, or white. Even their seedpods are interesting, and are commonly used in dried flower arrangements. This is one plant you'll want to keep in a pot, as it is highly aggressive."
Reply:The difference is about $100!