The American lotus is a native aquatic plant found throughout Mississippi, according to the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks.
The plant is easily recognized by its large, round leaves, also called pads, and its prominent yellow flowers. The stems of the American lotus provide structural habitat for fish beneath the water’s surface.
During late summer, the pads act as a sun umbrella, shading shallow water and helping regulate temperature. Anglers often target fish in the pads, where bass and bream feed on frogs, crawfish, and insects, the department said.
