Botanical Name: Victoria water lily
Family: Nymphaeaceae
Kingdom: Plantae
Order: Nymphaeales
Genus: Victoria
Species: V. amazonica
Synonyms:
*Euryale amazonica Poepp
*Nymphaea victoria M.R.Schomb. ex Lindl.
*Victoria regina R.H.Schomb.
*Victoria regia Lindl.
Common Names: Victoria amazonica
Habitat: Victoria water lily is native to the shallow waters of the Amazon River basin, such as oxbow lakes and bayous. It grows in the temperate and tropical parts of the world.
Description:
Victoria water lily is a species of flowering plant, the largest of the water lily family Nymphaeaceae. It is the national flower of Guyana. It has rounded, variously notched, waxy-coated leaves on long stalks that contain many air spaces and float in quiet freshwater habitats. … The showy, fragrant, solitary flowers are borne at or above the water surface on long stalks that are attached to the underground stems.It has a leaf that is up to 3 metres (9.8 ft) in diameter, on a stalk up to 8 metres (26 ft) in length.
The stalks arise from thick, fleshy, creeping underwater stems that are buried in the mud. The showy, fragrant, solitary flowers are borne at or above the water surface on long stalks that are attached to the underground stems. Each cuplike flower has a spiral arrangement of its numerous petals.
The flowers of most species have many stamens (male reproductive structures). Some flowers open only in the morning or in the evening to attract insect pollinators. The fruit is usually nutlike or berrylike. Some fruits ripen underwater until they rupture or decay, and the seeds then float away or sink. Some water lilies also have submerged leaves. All members of the family are perennial except for the genus Euryale, an annual or short-lived perennial found only in Asia.
CULTIVATION:
- Firstly, you need to plant them carefully ??by starting with putting them in a pot and be careful not to let the clay cover the crown.
- Once they started to have young leaves? watch the water level to be the same height as the leaves,don’t let the water flood over the leaves.
- After the giant water lily is strong enough ,normally they need to be put in the pond,not a small pot.
- So you have to move the pot and place them in the pond instead,but you need to put them in the shallow part first,and keep in mind that the water level is needed to be the same height as the height of the leaves.
- After they grow bigger you can relocate them to the deeper level.
- You also need to use the good quality clay, not too acid and they are needed to be exposed to sunlight.
- Be careful of Snail ? and fish ? .
PROPAGATION:
1.Before the flowering season in spring or early summer, lift the basket of water lilies out of the water and rest it on some plastic sheeting by the side of the pond.
2.Then, gently pull the plant out of its container from the base of the stem.
3.Using a large bread knife carefully cut through the roots.
Edible Uses:
In the Brazilian Amazon, Victoria amazonica seeds and rhizomes are important items consumed by riverine inhabitants (Piedade and Junk 2000). The root, stem and seed of the Victoria lily are all edible. The root, stem and seeds are edible.
Medicinal Uses: Victoria water lily is also used in traditional medicine.
Other Uses:
Their abundance of the plant provides important benefits to the ecosystem. They create food and shelter for both aquatic and non-aquatic wildlife. Lily pads provide important food sources for beaver, certain species of beetles, and pollinators as well as providing shelter for fish.
Water lilies provide food for fish and wildlife but sometimes cause drainage problems because of their rapid growth. Many varieties have been developed for
ornamental use in garden pools and conservatories. Closely related genera, of the family Cobombaceae, are the water shields and the fanworts.
Known Hazards:
The rapid growth of a Water lily is dangerous because excess growth will cover the surface, causing a reduce in light penetration into the body of water. Thick growths of Water lilies interfere with oxygen exchange and one of the worst-case scenarios it can lead to being a source of flooding.
Disclaimer : The information presented herein is intended for educational purposes only. Individual results may vary, and before using any supplement, it is always advisable to consult with your own health care provider.
Resources:
https://www.britannica.com/plant/Nymphaeales
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victoria_amazonica
