Victoria boliviana

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Victoria boliviana
Kew Gardens, Princess of Wales Conservatory, Victoria boliviana flower.jpg
Victoria boliviana flower
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
Victoria boliviana is endemic to Bolivia [1]

Victoria boliviana, or the Bolivian waterlily [2] is a species of aquatic plant within the genus Victoria in the family Nymphaeaceae. [1] It is the newest described species of the genus and its largest member in size and was officially identified in 2022. [3] 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 recognising a specimen grown in 2012 at La Rinconada Gardens in Santa Cruz, Bolivia. [4]

Contents

Description

Overview of Victoria boliviana Victoria boliviana.jpg
Overview of Victoria boliviana
Illustration of Victoria boliviana Victoria boliviana Botanical illustration.jpg
Illustration of Victoria boliviana
Victoria boliviana cultivated Kew Gardens Victoria boliviana Kew wide.jpg
Victoria boliviana cultivated Kew Gardens

Vegetative characteristics

It is a large, [5] [4] rhizomatous, aquatic plant [1] with large, [4] petiolate, orbicular, [5] up to 3.2 m wide [3] [6] floating leaves. [2] The 7 cm tall rim of the lamina [2] has sharp prickles. [7] The upper leaf surface is green and the lower surface is green, blue, or maroon. [6] The petiole is prickly. [5] [8]

Generative characteristics

The nocturnal, [2] solitary, [4] protogynous, [9] [10] white to pink, [3] [2] prickly, [4] [3] up to 36 cm wide flowers [4] float on the water surface. [8] [10] The four 10–15 cm long, and 8–10 cm wide sepals [6] bear prickles. [6] [4] The gynoecium consists of 25–36 radially arranged carpels [6] with carpellary appendages. [9] The fruit bears 300 black to brown, arillate, globose, 12–13 mm long, and 16–17 mm wide seeds [6] with a distinctive, prominent raphe (i.e., a ridge at the top of the seed). [9] [6] [10]

Cytology

The chromosome count is 2n = 2x = 24. [6]

Taxonomy

It was published by Carlos Magdalena and Lucy T. Smith in 2022. [6] [1] The type specimen was collected by S. G. Beck in a lagoon by the Yacuma River, Ballivían Province, Bolivia on the 29th of March 1988. [11] [6]

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), [6] 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. [6] 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. [6]

Position within the genus Victoria

This species is the sister group to Victoria cruziana. This leads to the following relationships: [6]

Victoria

Etymology

The specific epithet boliviana references its origin in Bolivia. [3] [5]

Ecology

Habitat

This species is native to the Bolivian wetlands. [3]

Pollination

It is pollinated by beetles. [6] [2] [10] Flowers of the genus Victoria are pollinated by beetles of the genus Cyclocephala . [12]

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. [3] 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. [5]

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. [6]

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 aquatic herbs in the plant family Nymphaeaceae. Its leaves have a remarkable size: Victoria boliviana produces leaves up to 3.2 metres (10 ft) in width. The genus name was given in honour of Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom.

<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 means "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.

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

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

<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.

Nymphaea belophylla is a species of waterlily native to Bolivia, Brazil and Venezuela.

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

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

Nymphaea harleyi is a species of waterlily endemic to 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.

<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.

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

Nymphaea hastifolia is a species of waterlily native to the Northern Territory, and Western Australia.

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

Nymphaea rubra is a species of waterlily native to the region spanning from Sri Lanka and northeastern India to western and central Malesia. Additionally, it has been introduced to regions such as Southeast China, Cuba, Guyana, Hungary, and Suriname.

<i>Barclaya longifolia</i> Species of perennial aquatic plant

Barclaya longifolia is a species of perennial aquatic plant native to the region of Indo-China to Northwest Peninsular Malaysia.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Victoria boliviana Magdalena & L.T.Sm". Plants of the World Online . Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew . Retrieved 30 November 2024.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Bolivian waterlily" Archived 2023-01-23 at the Wayback Machine Royal Botanic Gardens Kew. Retrieved 23 January 2023
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 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
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Millward, A. (2023b, January 30). Unbeleafable! How the world’s largest waterlily went unnoticed for decades in plain sight. Guinness World Records. Retrieved November 30, 2024, from https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/news/2023/1/how-the-worlds-largest-waterlily-went-unnoticed-for-decades
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 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
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 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.
  7. ↑ Scientists discover a new species of giant water lily that can grow up to 3 metres wide | CBC Radio. (2022, July 14). CBC. Retrieved December 1, 2024, from https://www.cbc.ca/radio/asithappens/as-it-happens-the-wednesday-edition-1.6512448/scientists-discover-a-new-species-of-giant-water-lily-that-can-grow-up-to-3-metres-wide-1.6511116
  8. 1 2 Anderson, N. (2022, July 5). New Species of Giant Waterlily Identified. Sci.News. Retrieved December 1, 2024, from https://www.sci.news/biology/victoria-boliviana-10968.html
  9. 1 2 3 Smith, L. T. (2022, July 4). Victoria boliviana - A new species of giant waterlily:  4th July 2022. Lucy T Smith - Botanical Artist. Retrieved December 1, 2024, from https://www.lucytsmith.com/blog/victoria-boliviana-a-new-species-of-giant-waterlily
  10. 1 2 3 4 Wilson, E. (2023, September 5). The botanical artist who helped uncover the world’s biggest waterlily. Kew. Retrieved November 30, 2024, from https://www.kew.org/read-and-watch/botanical-art-worlds-biggest-waterlily
  11. ↑ Victoria boliviana Magdalena & L.T.Sm. (n.d.). International Plant Names Index. Retrieved November 30, 2024, from https://www.ipni.org/n/77300986-1
  12. ↑ Proctor, Michael; Yeo, Peter; Lack, Andrew (1996). The Natural History of Pollination. Portland: Timber Press. p. 310. ISBN   0-88192-353-2.
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