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Giant Amazon Water Lily

The world's largest water lily species 'Victoria amazonica' is native to the Amazon River systems of South America. Its sister plant 'Victoria cruziana' is found further south in the Bolivia region.

 

Both giant species regularly grow lily pads over 1.2 metres (4 feet) in diameter. However, Bolivia claims to have grown a lily pad over 3 metres (10 feet) in diameter.

 

The flower is large (over 30 cm) or the size of a large cabbage. It starts off white but changes to pink on the second day. It has a fragrance like fresh pineapple.

 

Photographed at the Blue Lotus Water Garden, Yarra Junction, Victoria, Australia.

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Uploaded on February 19, 2014
Taken on February 15, 2014