Five Giant Waterlily Species Now Known After New Colombian Discovery

Scientists have expanded the known diversity of giant waterlilies from two to five species. The latest addition, Victoria colombiana, was identified in a remote Colombian lake after a team used social‑media photos, satellite imagery and a nighttime boat trek guided by local Indigenous knowledge. The plant differs from its Amazonian relative V. amazonica in the orientation of leaf‑spines and the shape of its flowers and fruits—adaptations that reflect local herbivore pressures. The species is confined to a single small area, making it highly vulnerable to environmental threats, prompting plans to collect seeds for conservation. Earlier discoveries include V. boliviana (2016) and a forthcoming V. mattogrossensis from the Pantanal, underscoring the hidden biodiversity of South American wetlands.