Amazing giant waterlily

Victoria amazonica (giant waterlily)

                 

Queen of the water lilies, this Amazonian giant has a remarkable life cycle
                         Victoria amazonica is well known for its huge circular leaves, which are often pictured with a small child sitting supported in the centre as a demonstration of their size and strength. The species is highly prized as an ornamental, despite having somewhat particular requirements for successful cultivation

This extraordinary relative of the garden-favourite lily was discovered in 1801 in a slow moving tributary of the Amazon River.

A blooming history

Victoria amazonica was first discovered in Bolivia in 1801 and named Eurgale amazonica. It was subsequently moved to a new genus named in honour of Queen Victoria (originally as Victoria regia).

            The first giant water lily to flower in the UK was grown by horticulturalist Sir Joseph Paxton, head of the Duke of Devonshire’s gardens at Chatsworth House. Paxton had received the plant from the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew in 1849 and grown it a specially built greenhouse. Inspired by the structure of the leaf, he later incorporated the lily into designs for his Crystal Palace built for the Great Exhibition of 1851 in London.
                        

                                     


                 The enormous circular leaves, which grow to over 2.5 m across, have upturned rims and are anchored by long stalks arising from an underground stem buried in the mud of the river bottom. The leaves first appear as spiny heads but expand rapidly up to half a square metre per day. The upper surface has a rather quilted appearance and a waxy layer that repels water.
                   The purplish red undersurface has a network of ribs clad in abundant sharp spines, possibly a defence against herbivorous fishes and manatees. Air trapped in the spaces between the ribs enables the leaves to float. They are so buoyant that they can easily support the weight of a small child, and a mature leaf can support 45 kg if the load is evenly distributed. In a single season, each plant produces some 40 to 50 leaves, which cover the water surface and exclude light, thus restricting the growth of most other plants..