The deputy of Lotus World (left) presents a potted lotus to the deputy of Macao's Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau on Tuesday, December 15, 2009. [Photo: nddaily]

South China-based Lotus World has presented 1,000 potted lotuses to Macao to mark the tenth anniversary of the Special Administrative Region's return to China, the Southern Metropolis Daily reports.

Lotuses usually come into full bloom in the summer. However, these lotuses are of a new winter-blooming variety cultivated by Lotus World, a company specializing in breeding water plants such as the Chinese lotus or water lily.��

The lotus flower is the emblematic flower of Macao, depicted on the regional flag and Macao SAR emblem. In 2004, Macao used the winter lotus to decorate the city and celebrate the fifth anniversary of its return to the motherland, the report says.

Lotus World, located in the city of Foshan, South China's Guangdong province, is under the guidance of two famous - professors Wang Qichao and Zhang Xingyan, also known as "the lotus couple" in China. Nearly 500 new varieties of lotus have been cultivated or introduced by Lotus World since its debut in 2000.