He discovered a new species of giant water lily, 3 meters wide leaves, 177 years old

This new species of water lily has in fact lived in the aforementioned botanical garden for 177 years and has been present at the National Gallery of Dried Plants of Bolivia for the past 34 years.

Giant water lily is 177 years old in England. (Photo: Daily Mail)

Scientists once thought that this species of water lily belongs to the genus Victoria amazonica - one of two giant water lilies named after Queen Victoria in 1852.

However, the true identity of this flower was revealed after experts at Kew Gardens, working with a team of scientists from Bolivia, proved that this is the third giant water lily known. to the world.

The flower was later named Victoria boliviana, in honor of its native ecology, as well as the Bolivian partners in this study.

According to a report published in Frontiers in Plant Sciences, Victoria boliviana has leaves up to 3m wide, the largest leafy plant in the world.

Scientists believe that the appearance of this flower at Kew Gardens is thanks to the seeds that the Santa Cruz de La Sierra Botanical Garden and La Rinconada Garden in Bolivia donated to the Botanical Garden in London.

Plant expert Lucy Smith says the flower has been quietly growing in Kew Gardens for the past four years without a nametag, although many have questioned the difference between Victoria boliviana and other flowering plants. other guns.

Carlos Magdalena, an expert on endangered plants, called Victoria boliviana "one of the botanical wonders of the world".

About 2,000 new plant species are identified every year around the world, he said, but this water lily is the most impressive discovery in 2022.

Not only outstanding in size, the flower is also very beautiful when it can bloom and change from white to pink at night.

Thus, Kew Gardens is currently the only place in the world where all 3 species of giant Victorian water lilies are located next to each other: "amazonica", "cruziana" and now "boliviana".