The Story Behind the Discovery of Victoria boliviana
In the wetlands of Bolivia, a botanical giant has been quietly growing for centuries, unseen by science despite its enormous proportions.
Leaves that can support an adult's weight
Victoria boliviana confirmed in 2022
Multidisciplinary approach to identification
Imagine a leaf so large it could comfortably support the weight of a full-grown adult—reaching over 3 meters (nearly 10 feet) across in the wild 7 . This is the reality of the Victoria water lily, a plant so spectacular that its 19th-century discovery caused a sensation across Europe. Yet, despite decades of study and cultivation, this botanical behemoth held onto a secret: what scientists thought were two known species of giant waterlily actually included a third, previously unrecognized member.
In a remarkable tale of scientific detective work that spanned countries and disciplines, an international team of researchers has now confirmed this new species—Victoria boliviana 1 7 . The discovery, published in the journal Frontiers in Plant Science in 2022, represents more than just a new entry in the botanical record. It demonstrates how modern science, when combined with horticultural expertise and historical investigation, can rewrite our understanding of even the most conspicuous and well-studied plants. This finding has profound implications for both botanical science and the conservation of these magnificent aquatic plants.
The story of Victoria's taxonomic confusion begins in the 19th century, during the golden age of botanical exploration. The first giant waterlily was formally described in 1832 by German explorer and naturalist Eduard Friedrich Poeppig, who encountered it along the Solimões River in Brazil and named it Euryale amazonica 1 3 . Yet, this discovery somehow failed to reach the scientific establishments of London and Paris.
Five years later, the same species was "discovered" again by German botanist Robert Schomburgk in Guyana. In a move that would shape the plant's popular name forever, British botanist John Lindley seized the opportunity to name it Victoria regia in honor of the newly crowned Queen Victoria 1 3 .
First description as Euryale amazonica by Eduard Friedrich Poeppig
"Rediscovery" and naming as Victoria regia by Robert Schomburgk and John Lindley
Description of V. cruziana by Charles Henry Dessalines d'Orbigny
Correction to V. amazonica by Johann Friedrich Klotzsch
Formal description of V. boliviana by Smith, Magdalena, Przelomska et al.
"It is therefore not less my duty... in distinguishing your Majesty's illustrious name, by far the most majestic species in the family of the Nymphs"
Lindley's description was delivered with great pomp, strategically designed to court royal patronage for scientific institutions, including saving the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew from potential closure 1 . This political naming came with a cost to scientific accuracy. Despite learning of Poeppig's earlier name, which had priority, Lindley never corrected his nomenclature. It took ten years for the German botanist Johann Friedrich Klotzsch to formally correct the record, establishing the name we use today: Victoria amazonica 1 3 .
The second species, Victoria cruziana, was described in 1840 by French botanist Charles Henry Dessalines d'Orbigny based on material he collected in Argentina 1 3 . For over 180 years, these two species—V. amazonica and V. cruziana—were thought to represent the entirety of this charismatic genus. Meanwhile, Indigenous peoples of South America had known these plants long before European documentation, with recorded names including 'auapé-yaponna' for V. amazonica and 'yrupé' for V. cruziana 1 3 .
Identifying a new species of giant waterlily required more than just a keen eye—it demanded a multifaceted approach that brought together diverse fields of expertise.
The team scoured historical records, including specimens housed in herbaria worldwide. They discovered that specimens of what would become V. boliviana had been sitting in Kew's Herbarium for 177 years and in the National Herbarium of Bolivia for 34 years, mistakenly identified as V. amazonica 7 .
Carlos Magdalena, a world expert on waterlilies at Kew Gardens, had suspected since 2006 that a third species existed based on images he saw online 7 . In 2016, Bolivian institutions donated seeds of the suspected new species, allowing him to grow all three Victoria species side-by-side under identical conditions at Kew.
Researchers led by Natalia Przelomska and Oscar A. Pérez-Escobar from Kew analyzed the DNA of the suspected new species and compared it with the two known species 7 . This presented technical challenges due to the plant's unique physical properties.
The team assembled a comprehensive dataset of the plants' physical characteristics using citizen science contributions (through iNaturalist and social media), herbarium specimens, and living collections 1 7 . Botanical artist Lucy Smith created detailed illustrations that captured subtle differences.
For almost two decades, I have been scrutinizing every single picture of wild Victoria waterlilies over the internet, a luxury that a botanist from the 18th, 19th and most of the 20th century didn't have.
The genomic analysis that provided definitive proof of the new species followed a meticulous process 7 :
Researchers collected leaf tissue samples from all known Victoria taxa, including herbarium specimens and freshly grown plants. The tough, prickly nature of the leaves made this first step physically challenging.
Despite the technical difficulties posed by the plant's fleshy, mucilaginous tissue—which often requires specialized protocols for successful DNA extraction—the team managed to isolate high-quality genetic material from their samples.
The team generated both nuclear and plastid DNA sequences. They faced the additional challenge of working with a poorly studied genome that's larger than that of any other waterlily, requiring novel analytical approaches.
By comparing DNA sequences across different specimens, the researchers built phylogenetic trees—diagrams that show evolutionary relationships—to determine how closely related the different Victoria plants were.
The genomic data revealed several key findings:
| Characteristic | V. amazonica | V. cruziana | V. boliviana |
|---|---|---|---|
| Leaf diameter | Up to 2.8 meters | Up to 2.0 meters | Over 3.2 meters (record holder) |
| Leaf rim | Higher, more upright | Lower, more curved | Intermediate height |
| Seed structure | Larger, rounded | Smaller, elongated | Larger, oval-shaped |
| Flower | More rounded petals | More elongated petals | Intermediate form |
| Spines | Denser coverage | Sparse distribution | Moderate distribution |
Studying these botanical behemoths requires specialized approaches and materials. Here are some of the key tools and methods used by researchers working with giant water lilies:
| Material/Method | Function/Application | Examples in Victoria Research |
|---|---|---|
| Citizen science platforms | Documenting plant diversity and distribution | iNaturalist observations and social media posts helped assemble morphological dataset 1 |
| Living collections | Growing plants under controlled conditions for comparison | Kew Gardens grew all three species side-by-side to exclude environmental variations 7 |
| Herbarium specimens | Preserving reference material for study | Historical specimens from Kew and Bolivian herbaria provided crucial evidence 1 7 |
| Genomic sequencing | Determining evolutionary relationships through DNA analysis | Nuclear and plastid DNA revealed genetic distinctness of V. boliviana 1 7 |
| Microtechniques | Studying microscopic structures of plant tissues | Specialized protocols needed for fleshy, mucilaginous waterlily material 5 7 |
| Botanical illustration | Capturing and communicating subtle morphological differences | Lucy Smith's illustrations highlighted key distinguishing features 7 |
Amazon River Basin
Brazil, Peru, Colombia, Guyana
Slow-moving waters of the Amazon region
Paraná River Basin
Argentina, Paraguay, Bolivia
Seasonal wetlands of the Chaco region
Llanos de Moxos
Bolivia
Aquatic ecosystems of northeastern Bolivia
"Having this new data for Victoria and identifying a new species in the genus is an incredible achievement in botany—properly identifying and documenting plant diversity is crucial to protecting it and sustainably benefiting from it"
Beyond the thrill of discovery, the identification of Victoria boliviana has significant implications for conservation. The formal recognition of V. boliviana means this species can now be assessed for conservation needs as a distinct entity. With its distribution limited to the aquatic ecosystems of Llanos de Moxos in Bolivia, it may face different threats and require different protection strategies than its sister species.
Natalia Przelomska emphasizes this point: "In the face of a fast rate of biodiversity loss, describing new species is a task of fundamental importance" 7 .
The research also demonstrates the power of multidisciplinary collaboration and the importance of historical collections. The combination of traditional botanical skills with modern technology and global connectivity made this discovery possible.
The story of Victoria boliviana reminds us that even in an age of advanced technology and extensive scientific knowledge, our planet still holds surprises waiting to be uncovered. The discovery of a new species of such magnitude—both in physical size and scientific importance—shows that nature still has secrets to reveal, even among what we thought were the most familiar and well-studied organisms.
Perhaps most inspiring is how this discovery bridges time and disciplines: from the botanical artists of the Victorian era to modern genomic sequencers, from historical herbarium specimens to social media posts of today. It demonstrates that protecting and understanding Earth's biodiversity requires all these tools—and the passionate experts who wield them.
As we face unprecedented challenges in conservation and climate change, this discovery offers both hope and direction: that with persistent curiosity, collaborative spirit, and respect for both traditional knowledge and modern science, we can continue to uncover the wonders of the natural world and protect them for generations to come.