8 of the Biggest Flowers on Earth..
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Amazon Water Lily (Victoria amazonica)
Close-up of giant Amazon lily pads in water
Peter Adams / Getty Images
Victoria amazonica is the largest organism in the water lily family, Nymphaeaceae, its pad growing up to eight feet in diameter. Native to tropical regions of South America—like Guyana, where they're the national flower—these enormous water lilies grow best in still, warm water that's more than 70 degrees. With their unprecedented size also comes impressive strength: The biggest pads can support the weight of a small child (up to 65 pounds).
The undersides of the leaves are covered with small sharp spines that defend it against fish and other herbivores that could attack from beneath. They also serve to crush rival plants and clear surrounding space to maximize growth.6
While their soccer ball-sized flowers are a sight to behold—imagine white soccer ball-sized blooms that smell like pineapple—they're elusive, appearing exclusively at night and only for a few days. The flowers can take up to 48 hours to open.
of 8
Amazon Water Lily (Victoria amazonica)
Close-up of giant Amazon lily pads in water
Peter Adams / Getty Images
Victoria amazonica is the largest organism in the water lily family, Nymphaeaceae, its pad growing up to eight feet in diameter. Native to tropical regions of South America—like Guyana, where they're the national flower—these enormous water lilies grow best in still, warm water that's more than 70 degrees. With their unprecedented size also comes impressive strength: The biggest pads can support the weight of a small child (up to 65 pounds).
The undersides of the leaves are covered with small sharp spines that defend it against fish and other herbivores that could attack from beneath. They also serve to crush rival plants and clear surrounding space to maximize growth.6
While their soccer ball-sized flowers are a sight to behold—imagine white soccer ball-sized blooms that smell like pineapple—they're elusive, appearing exclusively at night and only for a few days. The flowers can take up to 48 hours to open.
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29 August 2023
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