The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-06-25
Royal Flower With a Long History
Explorers Were Half Century in Getting the Victoria Resa Greatest
of Water Lilies Out TO Civilization After They had Dis
covered II in the Interior of South America.

m Prospect Park. Brooklyn, tn ere LIS
small structure tuilt into the embankment
of the south side Of the Rose Garden that
looks like an unpretentious vault. A closer
inspection reveals protruding short
chimney stack and likewise the true mission
OF tho structure. 1t 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 on hand during
the day to see that the water In the pond II
kept at the proper temperature, which must
never 60 below IS degrees +. The Victoria
regi1 lilies planted in the Prospect Park
pond are Of two species-the royal water lily
itself and Victoria regia var. THckerii.
There Is no plant without Its history, but
few have more interesting story connected
with their discovery and introduction into
the civilized Horticultural world than this
lily.
The native habitat of this queen Of aquat-
les is South America, where 1t is found on
the lakes and rivers extending for IS degrees
Of longitude. and 1t Is supposed to occupy
about 70 degrees of northern and southern
latitude. It was doubtless known to the
early Spanish conqustadores and traders.
although tho first European notice Of 1t
seems to bear date 1882. It was long after
that before any satisfactory and authentic
account Of 1t reached the Old World.
Its first recorded dscoverer was the
famous botanist Haenke, who had been
sent by the Spanish Government to In
vestigats the vegetable productions of
Peru. Hs found this lily In Bolivia about
1901.
During his travels Haenke encountered
q Spanish missionary, Father Cueva. To-
gether they made a voyage in . canoe upon
the Rio Mamore, one OF the great tribu-
covered growing in the marshes by the
side Of the stream plant 30 surprisingly
beautiful and extraor binary that the
botspist IN transport Of admir- alton fell
on his knees and expressed his sense Of
the power and majesty Of the Creator in
This was the first time tho royal water
lily had been viewed by man OF science.
Haenke died in the Philippines without
recording his discovery. the story Of which
70 a. 'sld French sspor. e'V'
The latter traveller made an investiga-
ton OF the province Of Corrientee, in Ar
eentina. early in 1897, and while descend
inS the River Parana reached q place
called Sy sOt Dc , San jose asrs he 6
called yrupe, literally water platter, from
vs. water, and 1rupe, Q dish. The plant
so named from the formation Of Its leaves
was the Victoria regia.
water maize. because the roundish black
seeds are white and mesly within and are
eaten roasted like maize. D'Orbigny Sc
cured seeda, which were sent by him to the
Museum Of Natural History at Paris. about
the end Of the year 1927.
tho plant bad been discovered by Bon
pland, the companion and fellow laborer Of
Humboldt, at q place near the stream
called Rio Chuelo, In Corrientes. and. il 10
said. he was 20 impressed with the beauty
OF the flowers that he could speak Of little
ese fer . whole month. -
In 1881. when travelling in the country Of
the wild 0uaravoe, tribe OF Guarauis,
or Caribs. D'Orbigny made the scquaint--
anc C. Of Fsther cnsya End then then. learned learned
after the inter view with the missionary,
while investigating the province Of Moxas,
and while going up. the Rio de Madeira
toward the source OF the Harmore, Dor |
nant wa'er connected With the river.
Here he found plant which he believed
at frat glance to he the lily discovered by |
Haenke. He perceived. however, that al !
though 1t was allied to the water maize |
found by him in Corrientes It differed from
in the foliage and color Of its flowers. I'm
fortunately, he was attacked with illness
and lost his specimens, and wes thus de-
prived Of the satisfaction Of carrying the
plant 70 Europe.
In 1893 Pceppig found the plant on the
Amazon and named 1t Euryale arnazonica. |
The first English hotanist who discovered |
II was Sir Richard Schonbursk in an e1-
plora ton Of British Guiana. he found II
on New Years day. 1895, in the River
Berpice. He collected specnr ems, and with
rawlings forwarded them to London, where
the genus was latsr named Victoria by Dr.
Lindley IN honor Of the Queen.
In 1870 Bridges, visiting tho region pre-