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]

The chromosome count is 2n = 2x = 24. [9]

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. [9]

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), [9] 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. [9] 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. [9] 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: [9]

Victoria

Victoria cruziana

Victoria boliviana

Victoria amazonica

Ecology

This species is native to the Bolivian wetlands. [2] It has been observed to be pollinated by beetles. [9]

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. [10]

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. [9]

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 nine genera with about 70 known species. Water lilies are rooted in soil in bodies of water, with leaves and flowers floating on or emergent from the surface. 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 completely cut out the sunlight from getting to any plants below the water. All three species typically have four sepals each measuring 12 centimetres (4.7 in) long by 8 centimetres (3.1 in) wide. There are typically 50 to 70 petals and 150 to 200 stamens.

<i>Nymphaea</i> Genus of aquatic plants

Nymphaea is a genus of hardy and tender aquatic plants in the family Nymphaeaceae. The genus has a cosmopolitan distribution. Many species are cultivated as ornamental plants, and many cultivars have been bred. Some taxa occur as introduced species where they are not native, and some are weeds. Plants of the genus are known commonly as water lilies, or waterlilies in the United Kingdom. The genus name is from the Greek νυμφαία, nymphaia and the Latin nymphaea, which mean "water lily" and were inspired by the nymphs of Greek and Latin mythology.

<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. The plant is a popular water garden plant in botanical gardens where its very large leaves can reach their fullest, up to 2 m wide with a thick rim up to 20 cm high, although rims up to nine inches have been recorded. It can be grown in cooler waters than its sisters within the genus, the more familiar giant waterlily, Victoria amazonica and the recently discovered Victoria boliviana. A 25 cm diameter flower blooms for two days, arising from the underwater bud, as a white flower that turns to a deep pink on the second and final day of its bloom. V. cruziana is a thermogenetic or heat-producing plant. The plant prefers to live in colder non moving water and requires warm temperatures in order for the flower to blossom, hence the plant must distribute a lot of energy to keep itself warmer than its natural environment. The floral stigma are attached to a cup that is protected by spines, and the floral cup begins heating up in the bud, then, as the flower opens, it releases a strong sweet scent to attract pollinating beetles, then continues to provide heat to the flower while the beetles are pollinating.

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

Victoria amazonica also called Victoria regia is a species of flowering plant, the second largest in the water lily family Nymphaeaceae. It is called Uape Jacana in Brazil and its Inca (Quechua) name is Atun Sisac. 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>Nuphar</i> Genus of aquatic plants

Nuphar is a genus of aquatic plants in the family Nymphaeaceae, with a temperate to subarctic Northern Hemisphere distribution. Common names include water-lily, pond-lily, alligator-bonnet or bonnet lily, and spatterdock.

<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 when dried, are eaten in Asia.

<i>Barclaya</i> Genus of aquatic plants

Barclaya is a genus of six species of flowering plants of the family Nymphaeaceae. Barclaya are aquatic plants native to tropical Asia. The genus was named in honour of the American-born English brewer and patron of science Robert Barclay.

<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, western Asia, North America, and Cuba. This interesting species found on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean was used as a food source and in medicinal practices from prehistoric times with potential research and medical applications going forward.

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

Nymphaea micrantha is a water lily belonging to the genus Nymphaea. It is native to the tropics of West Africa.

<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 and Minnesota.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kew Gardens</span> Botanic garden in London, England

Kew Gardens is a botanic garden in southwest London that houses the "largest and most diverse botanical and mycological collections in the world". Founded in 1840, from the exotic garden at Kew Park, its living collections include some of the 27,000 taxa curated by Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, while the herbarium, one of the largest in the world, has over 8.5 million preserved plant and fungal specimens. The library contains more than 750,000 volumes, and the illustrations collection contains more than 175,000 prints and drawings of plants. It is one of London's top tourist attractions and is a World Heritage Site.

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

Nymphaea thermarum is the world's smallest water lily yet described. The pads (leaves) of N. thermarum can measure only 1 cm (0.39 in) across, less than 10% the width of the next smallest species in the genus Nymphaea. By comparison, the largest water lily has pads that can reach 3 m (9.8 ft). All wild plants were lost due to destruction of its native habitat, but it was saved from extinction when it was grown from seed at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew in 2009. In January 2014, a surviving water lily was stolen from the Royal Botanic Gardens.

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

Urceolina amazonica, formerly known as Eucharis amazonica, is a species of flowering plant in the family Amaryllidaceae, native to Peru. It is cultivated as an ornamental in many countries and naturalized in Venezuela, Mexico, the West Indies, Ascension Island, Sri Lanka, Fiji, the Solomon Islands and the Society Islands. The English name Amazon lily is used for this species, but is also used for some other species of the genus Urceolina.

<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>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 ocurr in Argentina.

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

Nymphaea ampla, the dotleaf waterlily, is a species of flowering plant in the family Nymphaeaceae. It is native to Texas, Florida, Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean, and northern and western South America.

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

Nymphaea dimorpha is a species of waterlily endemic to Madagascar.

Nymphaea glandulifera is a species of waterlily native to tropical America.

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. 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.
  10. 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