Among the variety of plant forms on our planet truly unique species live. There is even an unofficial rating of the most unusual specimens. Among the half a million species in the twenty leaders, the water lily record holder Victoria Regia is firmly entrenched.
Title
The plant was discovered in the XIX century. It got its name from the lips of the botanist R. Schomburg during his 1837 expedition, organized by the British Geographical Society on the tropics of South America. The German researcher was struck by the size and beauty of the flowering of a huge lily.
In combination with Victoria, the word Regia (Victoria Regia) means "regal" or "magnificent." The name, according to some sources, was given in honor of the British Queen, who was ruling at that time. Young Victoria was famous for its beauty and disposition to the study of botanical disciplines.
Among the Indians of Colombia, this plant is known under the name Apona. From their dialect, this can be translated as a “bird pan”, obviously, due to the similarity of the shape of the leaves with this cooking utensil. Bird, perhaps, it is called due to the fact that even large birds can calmly sit on the large floating leaves of this plant in the middle of a reservoir.
Habitat
Victoria Amazonica (Victoria Regia) - a plant from the Water Lily family. It differs in large sizes of leaves and flowers. This aquatic tropical plant is considered the largest water lily (lily) in the world and for this it is listed in the Guinness Book of Records. Because of its popularity, it is bred in many large greenhouses, although it is distinguished by a "capricious disposition", as it is demanding on the conditions of detention.
It is believed that the birthplace of a giant water lily is the Amazon. You can meet her in Colombia, Bolivia, Brazil, Peru. In Guyana, “regal Victoria” is considered a national flower and therefore is depicted on the state emblem. In the wild, most often it can be observed on the water surface of the deep lagoons of large rivers of the Amazon basin with a muddy bottom.
In an artificial environment, it is grown in greenhouses and botanical gardens around the world as an annual plant due to the difficulties of wintering. The optimum water temperature for life should be at least 25 ° C. Breeders bred a hybrid of its Longwood Hybrid with a similar form of V. Cruziana. Unlike V. Amazonica, its leaves are half as large, but it survives better in harsh environments.
Characteristic
This aquatic flowering plant is based on a large rhizome, a tuber with outgoing layers thick as a rope. On the surface of the water they carry powerful flat leaves of a round shape. They are attached to massive petioles. The back side of the leaf has a pronounced and developed venation. Air bubbles are trapped between the recesses, adding a massive buoyancy structure.
The diameter of a leaf of such a water lily as Victoria Regia (photo above), starting from the 20th in a row, can reach 2 meters or more. Along the edge in the lower part it is covered with sharp spikes. This prevents fish and other aquatic herbivores from gnawing off parts of the leaf. The plant propagates by seeds. The fruit (up to 10 cm) is formed after flowering. In it, small, dark, round-shaped seeds ripen under water.
Blossom begins after the release of 30 sheets. Then, with an interval of 2-3 days, buds appear. After opening, they form large (up to 30 cm) lilies (up to 15 pieces) with many petals. Flowering of each lasts 3 days, and the aroma changes throughout the period. Seeds ripen for about two months. In the natural environment, the plant easily “hibernates” and can live up to five years.
Breeding Features
After gaining fame, the giant water lily was repeatedly tried to be grown in an artificial environment. Its seeds do not tolerate transportation and lose germination. For successful germination, they require special conditions (temperature, light).
It is noted that the deeper the pond, the larger the leaves can grow. Despite protection from herbivorous fish and animals, the record-breaking water lily is susceptible to aphid damage. Slugs and snails can harm her. The development of algae in the water column also adversely affects its development.
For the leaves to gain weight, the plant needs a lot of nutrients. During the period of active growth, Victoria Regia needs to be fed. Fertilizer (manure) in gauze bags is lowered to the bottom to the rhizome. During the season, one plant is able to use up to two cubic meters of the nutrient mixture connected to the sand.
