By Alessandra Kelly
The giant water lily holds huge floating lily pads; consequently, the plant remains the largest of the water lily family, with pads spanning up to eight feet across. Located in South America, the plant can grow up to 20 centimeters per day! The Amazon water lily, Victoria amazonica, spans from Bolivia in the south to Guyana in the north. Similarly, the lesser known relative, the Santa Cruz water lily (Victoria cruziana), is found in wetlands further south in Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay. The plant holds pink blooms with a beautiful sweet pineapple-like scent, trapping beetles overnight before releasing them to complete the pollination process the next day. Supported by large spongy veins, the leaves have upturned edges, with an underside covered in sharp spines to defend against herbivores such as fish and manatees. A true masterpiece, the giant water lily remains completely unique to any other plant in the world.