A New Species of Absolutely Enormous Waterlily Has Been Hiding in Plain Sight

The first new giant waterlily species since the mid-19th century has been found by experts at London's Kew Gardens.

Specimens of the new species were discovered for the first time at the botanical garden for 177 years.

They were thought to be from the Victoria Amazonica, one of the two types of giant waterlilies named after Queen Victoria.

They were revealed to be a third variety after experts from the Latin American country worked with them.

V. boliviana in the wild in Bolivia. (Carlos Magdalena © RBG Kew)

Victoria boliviana is the newest species of giant waterlily and is the largest one in the world.

The paper detailing the years of detective work was published in the journal.

The Santa Cruz de La Sierra Botanic Garden gave the seeds from the suspected third giant waterlily.

Lucy Smith, a botanical artist, said they had been growing in a glasshouse for four years.

V. boliviana on 1st night flower in Kew's Princess of Wales Conservatory. (© Lucy Smith)

Some people wondered why this one looked different from the others. She told Agence France-Presse that they thought it was similar to this or that.

We've had this wonderful secret hidden in plain sight for a long time.

The plant is one of the botanical wonders of the world, according to a research horticulturalist who specializes in saving plant species that are near extinction.

A plant with this level of fame to be discovered in the year 2022.

That is not normal. It shows how much we don't know about our natural world.

Carlos Magdalena and Lucy Smith observing the underside of a giant waterlily pad. (© RBG Kew)

The giant waterlilies bloom at night.

V. boliviana is named in honor of the partners on the team.

All three species of the Victoria genus can be seen at the same time.

Agence France- Presse.