Until now, there was scientific consensus that there are only two species of the giant water lily genus Victoria (named after the British Queen Victoria). Thanks to a genetic analysis, this assumption has now been corrected. The herbarium of the Royal Botanic Gardens (RBG) in Kew, London, houses the new species, called Victoria Boliviana, which has gone unrecognized for 177 years.
The water lily species, whose floating leaves can reach a diameter of more than three meters, was previously mistaken for specimens of the species Victoria amazonica. The discovery of the new species Victoria, the largest water lily species in the world, has been hailed by RBG researchers as a ‘botanical wonder of the world’.
The plant – the video above shows the rapid growth of the aquatic plant – is the third of its kind and is named Victoria Boliviana – after its native location in Bolivia. Scientists believe the discovery is the first of its kind in more than a century. To date, only two species of giant water lilies are known – Victoria amazonica and Victoria cruziana.
“Ever since I first saw a photo of this plant online in 2006, I was convinced it was a new species,” said Carlos Magdalena, horticultural researcher for the Royal Botanic Gardens. The evidence eventually came from a gene analysis, which also shows that Victoria boliviana is significantly different from the other two species.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
