Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1882-02-09
VICTORIA REerA.

At the Belle conservatory bear the City Gem.
esery there is now in bloom one Of the great
South American water Lilies. known as the
Victoria regia. A few days ago one OF the
flowers opered out, but soon withered. An
other is now opening, Of much more vtali y,
and by Tomorrow, it is believed, it viii be
at its full expansion. This lily is = little
over one-tbird as large as that shown at San
Francisco, sone two years ago, and one OF
the leaves of which was tx ibited here, as it
Is but two months old. Its, however, per-
feet plant, and the hnwer il quite as hand
some SO that at the Golden Gate Park, San
Francisco. These plants are sufficiently
scarce here to be the objects of curiosity yet.
The Victoria regia is the largest water lily
known. L. was discovered some IS years
ago by Hanke in Central America. Bon
pland afterward, in 1920. found one near the
forks Of the rivers Parana and Paraguay. In
1928 D'Orbigny sent specimens Of the lily to
Paris. In the next few years Poppig exam
iDed It in Peru. He considered i5 a species
of E,,rydle. In 1887 Shonburgk found it in
British Guiana Spruce searched for it in
1S49 and found it near Para, South Anerics,
and introduced it into England. Suisse
auently the seeds were sent to the
United States, and in several cases
it lowered in great perfection.
60 California. The root of this magnificent
plant is spindle.shaped tuber. The leaves
are nearly circular, scarcely cleft at the sinu.,
and are notched slightly at the apex. In
adult leaves the margins turn up to width
Of from two to four inches. The upper sur
face is of pleasant green, and the lower of
a rich, dark crimson. From the base of the
leaf eight large veins radiate to the margin.
These are crossed and tied by transverse
arching veiule.s. and spiry with strong
prickles. The petiole is pricklv without
and porous within. being perforated by
several longitudinal canals. A tuil. grown
leaf will measure from four to six feet across.
It's tissue is very tender and delicate, and
would easily break but for its provision Of
veins. The Hower-bud of full-grown plant
measures from six to nine inches from base to
tip. Each bud is accompanied by young
leaf The divisions of the calyx (sepzls) are
four, of deep purple color, fading to white
at the edges. The petals are fifty or sixty 10
number, in three distinct sets, each
smaller toward the stamens, the outer
pure white, six or seven inches long,
of the most delicate tissue. and of lace
like appearance. The stamens are distinct,
and form corona on the central disk, the
outer ones abortive and thick, the inner per-
feet, with broadly SIMULATE rigid flaments.
The fruit is large, giobose urcsolate berry,
spiny without, and containining several
greenish seeds, each the size of pea, with a
hard, smooth coat, but filed with copious
farins. Such is the botanical description, in
brief, of the Victorio regia, and young spec.
linen of which can be seen at the Belle Con.
seryatory. The plant ia in good condition,
vigorous, growing rapidly, and when rnatured
will probably be as fine q specimen as has
ever been seen in the State.