The perianth of cv. Saddabutra lotus flowers comprises about 28 leaf-like organs. About 10–12 petals have all, or part, of their exterior at the surface of the floral bud. The outer two leafy organs, considered to be sepals, are less than 2 cm long. Often the first petals are barely larger than these sepals. The outer petals increase in size with a more distal position, with a maximum of the length about 8 cm at petal 15–16. The length then decreases again in more distal petals. A sharp distinction is found between the petals and the smaller staminoid petals, which number over 100. The first 12 petals are pale green, with a whitish part at the base. The relative size of the white part increases towards more inward petals. From about petal 13 the petals are only faintly green at the distal part. Petals 17–26 are almost uniformly white.