Victoria boliviana

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Victoria boliviana
Victoria boliviana Kew portrait.jpg
Victoria boliviana growing at Kew Gardens, London
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Order: Nymphaeales
Family: Nymphaeaceae
Genus: Victoria
Species:
V. boliviana
Binomial name
Victoria boliviana
Magdalena & L.T.Sm.
Bolivia (orthographic projection).svg
Distribution of Victoria boliviana

Victoria boliviana, or the Bolivian waterlily [1] is a new species of water lily within the genus Victoria in the family Nymphaeaceae. It is the newest described species of the genus and its largest member in size and was officially identified in 2022. [2] In January 2023, the species was awarded three Guinness World Record titles for world's largest waterlily species, world's largest waterlily leaf and world's largest undivided leaf, with the latter two specifically recognizing a specimen grown in 2012 at La Rinconada Gardens in Santa Cruz, Bolivia. [3]

Contents

Etymology

The specific epithet boliviana references its origin in Bolivia. [2]

Description

The leaves of Victoria boliviana regularly grow to around 3m wide; the largest recorded leaf measured 3.2m across from a plant in the La Rinconada Gardens in Bolivia. [2] It is clear from the photograph of this largest leaf (3 m (9.8 ft)) that the rims were not included in the measurement. [4] [5] [6] If the 8 cm (3.1 in) rims are included, the leaf is then fully 3.35 m (11.0 ft) in width, equal to the largest leaves of Gunnera manicata , and exceeded only by Amorphophallus titanum and Musa ingens among herbaceous plants. The leaves are so large that they are capable of carrying the weight of an adult human, as proven by Alberto Trinco, conservatory manager for the Princess of Wales Conservatory at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. [7]

The lily produces multiple flowers in succession each year, with each opening one at a time and blooming for just two nights. The flowers, which are covered in prickles, are white and subsequently turn pink. The center of the flower is an intense violet. [8] Flowers of the genus Victoria are pollinated by beetles of the genus Cyclocephala [9]

The chromosome count is 2n = 2x = 24. [10]

Taxonomy

The issue of Victoria taxonomy is complicated through the loss of the type collections of other species. In addition, the plants are difficult to collect, due to their enormous size, prickles and their susceptibility to disintegrating, before the material could be properly conserved. [10]

Delimitation from Victoria cruziana and Victoria amazonica

Victoria boliviana differs in many different features from the remaining two species of the genus. This includes its larger seed and ovule size (each seed being about 70% longer and wider, and over four times as voluminous as those of V. amazonica and V. cruziana), [10] as well as its moderate or intermediate rim height of the leaf lamina. Also, unlike V. amazonica and V. cruziana, it lacks trichomes (plant hairs) on its outer tepals and on the ovary. [10] The chromosome count is shared with Victoria cruziana, but differs from Victoria amazonica. It is also most similar to Victoria cruziana. Some features have an overlapping range, however in combination many differences can be observed. [10] As mentioned, the center of the flower is a strong violet, while that , for instance, of Victoria cruziana is red.

Position within the genus Victoria

This species is the sister group to Victoria cruziana. This leads to the following relationships: [10]

Victoria

Ecology

This species is native to the Bolivian wetlands. [2] It has been observed to be pollinated by beetles. [10]

History

Specimens of this species have remained unrecognised as distinct entities for a long time, although they were present in collections, including a drawing held in Kew from an 1845 specimen. [2] Bolivian seeds were donated to the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew in 2016. Based on this material genetic studies were made, which resulted in the recognition of this third Victoria species as a separate and distinct entity. [11]

Conservation

This species is estimated to fall between the IUCN Red List categories Vulnerable (VU) and Endangered (EN). There are five known populations present in Bolivia. [10]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nymphaeaceae</span> Family of plants

Nymphaeaceae is a family of flowering plants, commonly called water lilies. They live as rhizomatous aquatic herbs in temperate and tropical climates around the world. The family contains five genera with about 70 known species. Water lilies are rooted in soil in bodies of water, with leaves and flowers floating on or rising from the surface. Leaves are oval and heart-shaped in Barclaya. Leaves are round, with a radial notch in Nymphaea and Nuphar, but fully circular in Victoria and Euryale.

<i>Victoria</i> (plant) Genus of aquatic plants

Victoria or giant waterlily is a genus of water-lilies, in the plant family Nymphaeaceae, with very large green leaves that lie flat on the water's surface. Victoria boliviana has a leaf that is up to 3 metres (9.8 ft) in width, on a stalk up to 8 metres (26 ft) in length. The genus name was given in honour of Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom. It pushes other water plants aside as it spreads out until only those of its kind remains. When this happens it has nearly completely cut out the sunlight from getting to any plants below the water limited only by circle packing.

<i>Victoria cruziana</i> Species of aquatic plant

Victoria cruziana is a tropical species of flowering plant, of the Nymphaeaceae family of water lilies native to South America, primarily Brazil, Bolivia, Argentina and Paraguay.

<i>Victoria amazonica</i> Species of plant

Victoria amazonica is a species of flowering plant, the second largest in the water lily family Nymphaeaceae. It is called Vitória-Régia or Iaupê-Jaçanã in Brazil and Atun Sisac in Inca (Quechua). Its native region is tropical South America, specifically Guyana and the Amazon Basin.

<i>Nymphaea nouchali <span style="font-style:normal;">var.</span> caerulea</i> Species of plant

Nymphaea nouchali var. caerulea, is a water lily in the genus Nymphaea, a botanical variety of Nymphaea nouchali.

<i>Euryale ferox</i> Species of flowering plant

Euryale ferox, commonly known as prickly waterlily, makhana, or Gorgon plant, is a species of water lily found in southern and eastern Asia, and the only extant member of the genus Euryale. The edible seeds, called fox nuts or makhana, are dried, and eaten predominantly in Asia.

<i>Nuphar lutea</i> Species of flowering plant

Nuphar lutea, the yellow water-lily, brandy-bottle, or spadderdock, is an aquatic plant of the family Nymphaeaceae, native to northern temperate and some subtropical regions of Europe, northwest Africa, and western Asia. This species was used as a food source and in medicinal practices from prehistoric times with potential research and medical applications going forward.

<i>Nymphaea leibergii</i> Species of water lily

Nymphaea leibergii, also known as the dwarf waterlily and Leiberg's waterlily, is a perennial emergent aquatic plant belonging to the genus Nymphaea. It can be found across northern North America in ponds and slow moving streams. Populations of this plant are infrequent throughout its range, and it is protected as a state threatened plant in Maine, Michigan, and Minnesota.

<i>Nymphaea thermarum</i> Species of water lily

Nymphaea thermarum, also known as Pygmy Rwandan water lily, is a species of water lily that is endemic to Rwanda. Once thought to be extinct in the wild, all wild plants were believed to be lost due to destruction of its native habitat, but it was thought to be saved from extinction when it was grown from seed at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew in 2009. A previously-unknown wild population was discovered in 2023.

<i>Nymphaea gigantea</i> Species of plant in the family Nymphaeaceae

Nymphaea gigantea, commonly known as the giant waterlily or blue waterlily, is a perennial, herbaceous plant in the family Nymphaeaceae which is native to parts of northern and eastern Australia, and it has been widely cultivated elsewhere. It is an aquatic plant whose natural habitat is permanent and semi-permanent still water bodies

<i>Euryale</i> (plant) Genus of aquatic plants

Euryale is a genus of flowering plants of the family Nymphaeaceae.

<i>Nymphaea elegans</i> Species of water lily

Nymphaea elegans, also known as the tropical royalblue waterlily, is a species of aquatic plants in the family Nymphaeaceae. It is native to the United States, Mexico, and the Bahamas. It has been introduced to Colombia. Additionally, it has been reported to occur in Argentina.

<i>Nymphaea prolifera</i> Species of water lily

Nymphaea prolifera is a species of waterlily naturally found from Mexico to Brazil and northeastern Argentina. Additionally, it has been reported to occur in Uruguay.

<i>Nymphaea gardneriana</i> Species of water lily

Nymphaea gardneriana is a species of waterlily native to Cuba and tropical South America.

<i>Nymphaea rudgeana</i> Species of water lily

Nymphaea rudgeana is a species of waterlily native to the region spanning from Mexico to tropical South America.

Nymphaea tenuinervia is a species of waterlily native to Colombia, Guyana and Brazil.

<i>Nymphaea lasiophylla</i> Species of water lily

Nymphaea lasiophylla is a species of waterlily native to East Brazil. It has also been introduced to the Venezuelan Antilles.

Nymphaea pedersenii is a species of waterlily native to Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, and Uruguay.

Nymphaea lingulata is a species of waterlily native to Bolivia, Brazil, and Paraguay.

<i>Nymphaea gracilis</i> Species of water lily

Nymphaea gracilis is a species of waterlily endemic to Mexico. It is the only species of its genus which is endemic to Mexico.

References

  1. ↑ "Bolivian waterlily" Archived 2023-01-23 at the Wayback Machine Royal Botanic Gardens Kew. Retrieved 23 January 2023
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Brewer, G. (2022, July 4). "Uncovering the giant waterlily: A botanical wonder of the world." Archived 2022-07-04 at the Wayback Machine Royal Botanic Gardens Kew. Retrieved July 4, 2022
  3. ↑ "Unbeleafable! How the world's largest waterlily went unnoticed for decades in plain sight". Guinness World Records. 2023-01-30. Retrieved 2023-02-06.
  4. ↑ Requena-Gallo, Cecilia (July 7, 2022). "Como Llego a Santa Cruz la Hoja de Victoria boliviana mas grande del Mundo" . Retrieved August 18, 2022.
  5. ↑ <anonymous> (April 2, 2017). "La Rinconada - The Dream of a Visionary" . Retrieved August 20, 2022.
  6. ↑ <anonymous> (2022). "La Rinconada - Un Bosque para Recuperar al Nino" . Retrieved August 20, 2022.
  7. ↑ Alberto Trinco [@an_italian_in_kew] (22 July 2022). "So this happened this morning! Can a leaf hold the weight of a person? It definitely can! I wanted to do it since last year and now i finally had the chance. What a thrill! This huge leaf of the Victoria boliviana is over 2.75 meters, and holding me it's taking more than 70kg! White plastic lid helps with spreading the weight, ladder on the side to mount (and dismount) in a more or less gracious way". Kew Gardens. Retrieved 26 July 2022– via Instagram.
  8. ↑ <not stated> (2023). "How the World's Largest Waterlily Went Unnoticed for Decades" . Retrieved July 15, 2023.
  9. ↑ Proctor, Michael (1996). The Natural History of Pollination. Portland: Timber Press. p. 310.
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Smith, Lucy T; Magdalena, Carlos; Przelomska, Natalia A. S.; Pérez-Escobar, Oscar A.; Antonelli, Alexandre K.; Melgar-Gómez, Darío G.; Beck, Stephan; Negrão, Raquel; Mian, Sahr; Leitch, Ilia J.; Dodsworth, Steven; Maurin, Olivier; Ribero-Guardia, Gaston; Salazar, César D.; Gutierrez-Sibauty, Gloria (4 July 2022). "Revised Species Delimitation in the Giant Water Lily Genus Victoria (Nymphaeaceae) Confirms a New Species and Has Implications for Its Conservation". Frontiers in Plant Science. 13: 883151. doi: 10.3389/fpls.2022.883151 . PMC   9289450 . PMID   35860537.
  11. ↑ Horton, H. (2022, July 4). "Newly identified waterlily species is world’s largest." Archived 2022-07-04 at the Wayback Machine The Guardian. Retrieved July 4, 2022
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