I think water lily and lotus are totally different. Lotus flower usually rises high above the watee unlike water lily. Usually after the lotus flower fades, it will bear edible seeds in the green pod. But water lily does not bear any green pod.
So I think in your context it refers to lotus not water lily. Not sure about the correct Chinese translation for water lily. You may want to consider the correct translation for 荷花. Not sure about 莲花。
I think water lily and lotus are totally different. Lotus flower usually rises high above the watee unlike water lily. Usually after the lotus flower fades, it will bear edible seeds in the green pod. But water lily does not bear any green pod.
See the website below
Water lily: https://gardendrama.wordpress.com/2012/02/10/the-water-lilies-are-alive-theyre-alive/
Lotus: http://www.latour-marliac.com/lotus
So I think in your context it refers to lotus not water lily. Not sure about the correct Chinese translation for water lily. You may want to consider the correct translation for 荷花. Not sure about 莲花。
Hi Adrian,
You are right. 莲花 is water lily and 荷花 is lotus.
I have changed it to lotus. Thanks.