Among the variety of plant forms in ourThe planet is inhabited by truly unique species. There is even an unofficial rating of the most unusual instances. Among the half a million species in the top twenty, the water lily record holder Victoria Regia is firmly entrenched.
Name
The plant was discovered in the XIX century.This name was derived from the mouth of the botanist R. Schomburgk during his expedition in 1837, organized by the British Geographical Society in the tropics of South America. The German researcher was amazed at the size and beauty of the blooming of a huge lily.
In conjunction with Victoria, the word Regia (VictoriaRegia) means "royal" or "magnificent." The name, according to some information, is given in honor of the ruling British queen at that time. Young Victoria was famous for its beauty and predisposition to the study of botanical disciplines.
In Colombian Indians, this plant is known bythe name of apon. From their dialect, this can be translated as "bird's frying pan", obviously, because of the similarity of the shape of the leaves with this kitchen utensils. Avian, perhaps, it is called due to the fact that even large birds can easily sit on the large floating leaves of this plant in the middle of the pond.
Habitat
Victoria Amazonica (Victoria Regia) - a plant fromFamily Nymphaeaceae. 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 is listed in the Guinness Book of Records. Because of the popularity of divorces in many large greenhouses, although it differs "capricious temper", as demanding on the conditions of detention.
Believed to be the birthplace of a giant water lilyis an amazon. You can meet her in Colombia, Bolivia, Brazil, Peru. In Guyana, “regal Victoria” is considered a national flower and is therefore depicted on the state emblem. In the wild, most often it can be seen on the water surface of the deep lagoons of large rivers of the Amazon basin, which have a muddy bottom.
In artificial medium grown in greenhouses andbotanical gardens around the world as an annual plant due to the difficulties of wintering. The optimum water temperature for vital activity should not be below 25 ° C. Breeders bred Longwood Hybrid with its similar form V. Cruziana. Unlike V. amazonica, its leaves are half as much, but it takes root better in more severe environmental conditions.
Characteristic
Это водное цветковое растение имеет в основе a large rhizome tuber with waste layers as thick as a rope. On the surface of the water, they carry powerful flat leaves of a rounded shape. They are mounted on massive stalks. The back of the sheet has a pronounced and developed venation. In between the cavities, air bubbles are retained, adding massive buoyancy design.
Диаметр листа такой кувшинки, как Виктория Регия (photo above), starting from the 20th in a row, can reach 2 meters or more. Along the edge at the bottom it is covered with sharp spikes. This does not allow fish and other aquatic herbivores to bite off parts of the sheet. Propagated by seed plant. The fruit (up to 10 cm) is formed after flowering. In it under water ripen small, dark seeds of rounded shape.
Цвести начинает после выброса 30 листов.Further, 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. Each bloom lasts 3 days, and the fragrance changes throughout the entire period. Seeds ripen about two months. In its natural environment, the plant easily “overwinter” and can live up to five years.
Features of breeding
After getting fame giant water lilyrepeatedly tried to grow in artificial environment. Its seeds do not tolerate transportation and lose their germination. For successful germination, they require special conditions (temperature, light).
It is noted that the deeper the reservoir, the largerleaves can grow. Despite protection from herbivorous fish and animals, the water lily record holder is prone to aphids. It can harm her slugs and snails. The development of algae in the water column also adversely affects its development.
For the leaves to gain weight, the plant needslots of nutrients. During the period of active growth Victoria Regia needs feeding. 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, combined with sand.
Victoria Regia: interesting facts
The leaves of this amazing plant, despitethe fact that they are bent upwards have grooves to drain excess water during prolonged tropical rains. The prick of a needle of their thorns hurts like a sting of a wasp. The color of the flower after the bud opening smoothly changes. In the morning it looks white, then pink, crimson, and in the evening it turns purple.
Indian children whose tribes inhabit onThe Amazon Basin, often using large leaves of a plant like Victoria Regia as swimming. They can easily withstand a weight of 8–10 kg and even more (30–40 kg), if you choose the right pivot point and keep the balance in the middle part.
The seeds of the water-lord record holder are edible.Indians collect them and dried for the future. When fried, they resemble corn. Rhizomes are also suitable for nutrition. They are taken out of silt, dried, ground and made flour for flat cakes. Indians for such qualities call this plant "water maize."
