12. The Biggest Water Lily Hid in History Is Visible for 177 Years
Location: London, England’s Kew Gardens
Discovered in 2022
Estimated Value: N/A
Some of the most intriguing discoveries are ones that have long been obvious and leave you wondering how you could have missed them. The largest water lily in the world, the Victoria boliviana, was not identified until 2022.
Boliva, Brazil: The World’s Biggest Water Lily Hid in Clear View for 177 Years @natalia_chirps/Twitter
It turns out that for an astonishing 177 years, this water lily has been lurking in plain sight at London’s Kew Gardens. It was misidentified as a different species of plant. Victoria boliviana spent 34 years hiding out at Bolivia’s National Herbarium prior to its arrival at Kew Gardens, where it was reportedly untouched as well. Once correctly recognised, the species is now the largest of its type, reaching up to 10 feet in width and supporting up to 176 pounds in the wild.
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