After 177 years of hiding in plain sight, the largest waterlily species has been found after a case involving mistaken identity.
The discovery was made by scientists at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew in London. It was published in Frontiers in Plant Science on Monday.
It can grow to 10 feet in width and have the same weight as a man’s full-grown hair, so it is difficult to overlook. The team spent years investigating giant waterlilies to discover that there was a species living in Kew’s herbaria.
The first giant waterlily specimens from Bolivia were brought to England in 1852. They were then given the genus Victoria, after Queen Victoria. Scientists originally believed that there were only two types of giant lily pads: the Victoria amazonica or Victoria cruziana. It is now clear that at least one additional species of giant lily pads made the journey from South America to Kew, west London.
Experts now have a way to more accurately document the waterlily biodiversity and preserve it for future generations.
Alex Monro (research leader in the Americas), said that “in the face of a rapid rate of biodiversity loss describing new species are a task of fundamental importance”. He also added that his research would inspire other scientists seeking to identify new species.
Victoria boliviana, the latest addition to the lily pad famiy, was named in honor of the researchers’ Bolivian partners and after a South American home of the giant waterlily.
Carlos Magdalena is a horticulturist and researcher who has been a worldwide expert on waterlilies for many years. When he was presented with a large collection of giant waterlily seed from Bolivian institutions Santa Cruz de La Sierra Botanic Garden in 2016 he was able to confirm his suspicions.
Magdalena germinated the seeds and grew them back at Kew. He was amazed to see the waterlily grow alongside the other Victoria species.
Lucy Smith, a botanist with extensive experience with lily pads was hired to illustrate Magdalena’s different lily pad species.
Smith illustrated giant lilies and showed how they could grow to the size of a soccer ball. She also noted that the flowers can change from white to pink at night. Smith said she started to see the distinctive distinctions in the V. boliviana’s leaves, which can be seen using satellite imagery.
It’s been so difficult to identify the plant properly, which she stated is a sign of how much work remains.
“I help scientists identify new species every year. They’re not all as charismatic or big as the new Victoria species, but they all have a purpose.” She said that every plant in an ecosystem plays an important role.
