Victoria Cruziana: The Santa Cruz Water Lily

The Santa Cruz water lily, with the scientific name Victoria Cruziana, is a fascinating aquatic plant named after Queen Victoria and its discoverer and botanist, Alcides d’Orbigny from Argentina. It hails from the slow-moving waters of Parana-Paraguay basin, found in Argentina, Bolivia, Paraguay, and southern Brazil. It is known for its large, circular leaves that can expand up to two meters in diameter. These leaves are green on top and have various spiny veins beneath that provide buoyancy and protection. The leaves of Victoria Cruziana also have a distinctive upturned edge, giving them notable saucer-shaped appearance. The Santa Cruz Water Lily blooms with attractive white flowers that open at dusk only to close and reopen the following night as pink blossoms. These vibrant flowers release a strong sweet pineapple-like scent when they bloom. Regrettably, each flower lasts just around 48 hours before sinking beneath the water's surface. Interestingly, unlike its sister plant Victoria Amazonica, Santa Cruz water lily presents a more compact growth form, hence is used frequently in water gardens and pond features of botanical gardens globally. It's been noted that young leaves are edible if cooked and its seeds have been used in various native recipes. Another remarkable aspect of this plant is its thermogenic ability; it can regulate the temperature of its flowers like a warm-blooded animal to attract pollinators. Also, its submerged root-stock are recorded to have starch granules and have been used as a rich carbohydrate source in survival situations.