The Washington times., 1905-07-18
ROYAL FLOWER
HAS A HISTORY
Victoria Regia Discovered
in Bolivia.
A PRIEST TELLS ITS TALE
Explorers Fifty Years Bringing It to
England, Where It Was Named
After Queen.

BROOKLYN, July 1S-In Prospect
Park there is a small structure built
into the embankment of the south side
of the rose garden that looks like an
unpretentious vault. a closer inspection
reveals a protruding short chimney
stack. and likewise the true mission OF
the structure. It is the boiler house
which warns the Victoria Regia pond.
in the upper part of the rose garden.
Since the early part of June, the time
when seedlings of this royal lily were
placed in the pond. the boiler house has
been doing duty. an attendant being
hand during the day to see that the
water in the pond is maintained at
the proper temperature. which must
never so below So degrees F.
The Victoria Regia lilies planted in
the Prospect Park pond are of, two
speeies-the royal water lily itself and
the Victoria ReGia var. Trickern.
There is no plant without its history,
but few have a more interesting story
connected with their discovery and in
PRODUCTION into the civilized f1orieuI-
tural world than this lily.
It's Native Habitat.
The native habitat of this queen OF
aquatics in South America, where it is
found on the lakes and rivers extending
for 35 degrees of longitude. and it is sup
posed to occupy about IS degrees of
northern and southern latitude. It was
doubtless known to the early Spanish
conquistadores and traders although the
first European notice OF it seems to bear
date 1892 1t was long after that be-
fore any satisfactory and authentic ac-
1F 17a
It's first recorded discoverer was the
famous botanist Haenke. who had been
sent by the Spanish government to in
vestigate the vegetable productions Of
Peru. He found this lily in Bolivia
about 1901.
During his travels Haenke encountered
a Spanish missionary. Father Cueva.
Together they made a voyage in a canoe
upon the Rio Mamore. one of the great
tributaries Of the Amazon, when they
discovered growing in the marshes by
the side of the stream a plant so sur
prisingly beautiful and extraordinary
that the botanist in a transport of ad-
miration fell on his knees and express
ed his sense of the power ana majesty
of the Creator in His works.
This was the first time the royal
water lily had been viewed by man
7
pines without recording his discovery,
the story OF which was subsequently
told by Father Cueya TO NJ. A. D'Orbig-
ny, French explorer.
Found Also by Frenchman.
The latter traveller made an investi-
CATION of the province of Corrientes, in
Argentina, early in 1927, and while de-
scending the river Parana reached a
nj oil fAd 1 d.
he discovered a plant which the natives
(Guaranis) called yrupe, literally water
platter, from ,, water, and ''rupe." &
dish. so named from the formation of
its leaves It was the Victoria Regia.
The plant is also called mafs del aqua,
water maize. because the roundish black
seeds are white and meaiy within and
are eaten roasted like maize. D'Orbigny
secured seeds. which We're sent by him
to the Museum of Natural History at
Paris. about the end of the year 1877
Eight years before the visit of Dor
bigny the plant had been discovered
by Bonpiand. the companion and fellow
laBorer of Humboldt. at place near
the stream called Rio Chuelo in Cor
rientes. and. it is said. he was so i'm
pressed with the beauty of the flowers
that he could speak of little else for Il
whole month.
OF the Wild Guarayos. a tribe of Guar
anis, or Caribs. D Orbigny made the ac-
Quaintance OF Father Cueva, and then
learned OF the discovery of Haenke
Some months after the interview with
the missionary, while Investigating the
province OF AOXas, and while going up
the Rio de Madeira toward the source
OF the MornoTe. D'Orbigny came upon
an immense lake Of stagnant water con-
nected with the river.
a RegrettabIe Illness.
Here ne found plant which he bellev-
ed at first glance TO be the lily discovered
by Haenke- He perceived, however
that, although it was allied to the wa
ter maize found by him at Corrientes.
It differed from that plant in several
particulars. especially in the foliage and
color of its flowers. Unfortunately, he
was attacked with illness and lost his
specimens. and was thus deprived of the
satisfaction of carrying the plant to
Europe
The Amazon. and named II EuTyale
AmaZonIca. The first English botanist
who discovered IL Was Sir Richard
SCEomburghk in an exploration of Brit
fsh Guiana He found il un New Year
Day 1855 in the River Berpice. He col
i cted specimens, and with drawings
forwarded them TO London. where the
genus was named Victoria b. DR.. Lind
ley, in honor Of the Queen OF Grea.
Britain.
In 1910 Bridges. visiting the region pre-
v.oJsly explored By DOrbiguy agair.
found this aquatic. He secured seeds
and sent them In a Jar OF wet clay TO
Kew Gardens. London. Out Of twenty
two seeds three germiaatcd and grew.
lut finally died
From the EsSCquibo river came other
seeds 10 Kew, dry this time along with
rhizames. the latter packed in Wardian
cases The seeds would not geFminate
and the rhizon1es rottedr
introduced Into England.
Thirty-five plants were secured during
another expedition from Demerara and
brought back TO that point. but all died
The successful introduction into England
Of this regal plant must be attributed to
two English physicians, Rode anu
Luckie, who sent seeds TO Kew from
British Guiana in bottle OF fresh
water. They arrived on February Is,
1S49
A pond was equipped for the royal
novelty at ChatsworEh. The plants were
placed IN il on August TO- 1850, and on
the evening of November following the
first bloom appeared. The flower was
presented TO Queen Victoria and. as has
been stated, the genus was named by
Dr. Iindiey in her honor