Victoria Amazonica

I couldn't go past without sharing about one of the largest water lilies in the world, Victoria Amazonica. This giant water lily is native to the Amazon Basin and is known for its circular leaves that span up to 10ft (3m). Its submerged stalk reaches 23-26ft (7-8m) in length. The lily pad with its upturned rim is perfectly balanced and buoyant, resulting from the ribbed understructure and venation, which allows it to support approximately 140 pounds (63kg). A small child sitting on the pad is often depicted in photographs.

Aside from the huge pad, the lily bears a stunning white flower that blooms overnight. Lasting only 48 hours, on the second day, the lily turns pink, then closes up and sinks beneath the water's surface. Scarab beetles are attracted to the blooming flower's scent and colour. As the flower closes overnight, the beetles get trapped inside, receiving nourishment from spongy, starchy tissue. On the eve of the second day, the flower begins to reopen. As the beetle reemerges, it is covered in pollen which it then carries to the next open lily.

The Victoria genus consists of three species. In 1837, it was named in honour of the newly ascended Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom. For 190 years, the Amazonica was listed as the world's largest water lily until a new species was identified in 2022. Victoria Boliviana, hiding in plain sight at Kew Gardens (UK) for 177 years, was mistaken for Amazonica. It wasn't until 2016 that a botanist at Kew Gardens noticed subtle differences between the two species.

Further studies and a visit to Bolivia, where the plant grows in the wild, confirmed the existence of a new species. In January 2023, Boliviana entered the Guinness World Records under three categories: the world's largest waterlily species, the world's largest leaf and the world's largest undivided leaf. Kew Gardens is the only place in the world where all three specimens reside side by side.

But the story doesn't end here. When the Amazonica specimen was transported to England in the 1830s, one challenge was making it flower because the environment was so much colder. In comes James Paxton, a renowned garden designer who successfully got the plant to flower in a greenhouse. Imagine the sensation it caused in England. Paxton studied the structure of the lily pad, recognising that the leaf ribs radiating from the centre connected with the cross ribs, giving the lily pad strength and the ability to carry weight. He applied his learnings to the design of greenhouses. Later, he won a competition to build the Great Exhibition Hall of 1851 in Hyde Park, named the Crystal Palace. Paxton said the design was greatly influenced by the beautiful lily pad. Sadly the building was destroyed by fire in 1936.

Returning to my Amazon journey, I look forward to stopping in Parana Espirito Santo.