New species of giant water lily identified in UK herbarium where they were kept for 177 years

South China Morning Post published this video item, entitled “New species of giant water lily identified in UK herbarium where they were kept for 177 years” – below is their description.

British researchers at London’s Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew have discovered a new species of giant water lily growing under their noses after they realised the plants had been mistakenly identified for years. The Victoria boliviana growing at Kew’s Herbarium is now recognised as the largest water lily in the world, with leaves that grow to more than 3 metres (10ft) across. Some scientists had suspected there was a third species among the herbarium’s famous giant water lilies named after Queen Victoria, but the researchers were unable to prove the theory without live specimens of the plants from their native habitat in Bolivia. After gathering enough evidence, they found that Victoria boliviana varies genetically and has a unique flower structure.

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Bolivia is a landlocked country located in western-central South America. The constitutional capital is Sucre, while the seat of government and executive capital is La Paz.

Its geography varies from the peaks of the Andes in the West, to the Eastern Lowlands, situated within the Amazon Basin.

The country’s population, estimated at 11 million, is multiethnic, including Amerindians, Mestizos, Europeans, Asians and Africans. Spanish is the official and predominant language, although 36 indigenous languages also have official status, of which the most commonly spoken are Guarani, Aymara and Quechua languages.

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