Record #00418Nature archive
Victoria boliviana produced the largest recorded undivided floating leaf, measuring 3.2 metres across at La Rinconada in Santa Cruz, Bolivia, on 3 February 2012. The species was formally described in 2022.
Current Record
up to3.2m
Current record value
Giant Victoria waterlilies form broad floating leaves with an upturned rim. For decades, Victoria boliviana was confused with other members of the genus until botanical and genomic investigations by Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, and Bolivian collaborators formally described it as a distinct species in 2022.
A leaf cultivated at La Rinconada ecological park in Bolivia measured 3.2 metres in diameter on 3 February 2012, with an upturned rim about 17 centimetres high. Flattening the rim would increase its overall spread to roughly 3.37 metres, but the record value is the directly measured 3.2 metres. Its reported leaf area is approximately 7.55 square metres.
The record conclusion has sufficient verification support.
Basis: comparison of consistent primary data
The 2022 primary taxonomic study confirms leaves of Victoria boliviana reach 3.2 m. The Guinness 'Largest waterlily leaf' record supplies the actual 3 February 2012 measurement date, 17-cm rim, 3.37-m flattened spread and approximately 7.55-m² area. The 2022 species-description publication date must not be used as the measurement date.
The measured leaf diameter is 3.2 m; the 3.37-m figure is a hypothetical flattened spread, not the entry result. The reported surface area is sourced rather than calculated from a circular approximation.
Current Entry identifies the current entry in this archive; it does not establish that the record is still held today.
The record value on this page is organized from the public sources above. Measurement methods may differ; JiLuDB follows the unified method described for each entry.
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