Victoria amazonica commonly called Victoria Regia is native to the shallow water of the Amazon River, Guyana and the Guianas.
Victoria Regia was named in honour of Queen Victoria of England. It was discovered by Robert Schomburgk in 1837 in the then British Guiana.
Victoria Regia is Guyana’s national flower and is depicted on the Coat of Arms.
Victoria Regia is well known for its huge circular leaves and is the largest water lily in the plant family Nymphaeaceae. The leaves of this water lily are approximately 9.8 ft (3 metres) in diameter on a stalk up to 26ft (8 metres) in length. The upper surface of the leaves in a waxy layer that repels water.
