"Hiding in a thicket of lotus trees, near the ancient avenue that leads from the south wall of the cliffs to the palace," she answered.

It contained a lotus tree and cypress tree long honored as being older than the city of Rome itself.

The location was open and barren, it had "no living thing except gazelles and ostriches and nothing growing except lotus trees and colocynths".

It is closely related to Ziziphus zizyphus (jujube), and is often regarded as the lotus tree of Greek mythology.

There a scouting party ate from the lotus tree and forgot everything of home.

In order to flee the violent attention of Priapus, she invoked the assistance of the gods, who answered her prayers by turning her into a lotus tree.

The lotus tree is also mentioned in the Book of Job 40:21-22, verses which refer to a large creature referred to as "behemoth".

The passage states: "He lies under the lotus trees, In a covert of reeds and marsh.

The lotus trees cover him with their shade; The willows by the brook surround him.

Lotis awoke and pushed Priapus away, but her only true escape was to be transformed into the lotus tree.