VICTORIA REGIA, the giant water-lily of the Amazon, the leaves of which may be 2 metres across, with the edges turned up to a height of several centimetres. On the lower surface, the projecting ribs bear spines. The flowers are large and pink. The plant is widely cultivated and has been introduced into Java (there is a fine specimen in the Buitenzorg gardens) and elsewhere. The
roasted fruit is eaten in Brazil. There are two other species of the genus, also South American. (See WATER-LILY.)