Biologists have discovered a new species of giant water lily right under their noses! The plants have been growing for 177 years at London’s Kew Botanical Gardens and for 34 years at the National Herbarium in Bolivia. Plant experts always thought they were specimens of Victoria amazonica, one of the two previously known gigantic water lily species.

Biologists at Kew and the Herbarium worked together to determine that the plants were a new species. Genetic testing revealed important differences between this water lily and the two known species. The newest species has been named Victoria boliviana. It’s now the largest in the world!