Guyana's National FLower

Between 1879 and 1884 the Botanical Gardens were laid out on the site of an abandoned sugar plantation - Vlissengen - located at the eastern end of the city's limits, by a Trinidadian, John Frederick Waby, who arrived in Georgetown in December 1878. Waby used plans previously prepared by another Trinidadian Botanist H.Prestoe. J F Waby spent 35 years in Guyana landscaping one of the finest tropical gardens in the region. These gardens have a huge variety of tropical flowers and one of the finest collection of palms, as well as lovely lilies. An example of the gardens vast collection are the lotus and the immense Victoria Regia Lily, Guyana's national flower, which was first discovered in the Berbice River.

This lily was first discovered in British Guiana on 1st January 1837, 120 miles from the coast and unsuccessful attempts were made to introduce living plants into England. In August 1846 the first seeds to germinate were packed in moist earth in a bottle. Only two plants survived until winter when they perished.

On the 28th February, 1849, Dr. Hugh Rodic and Mr. Lachie, of Georgetown, Demerara, sent seeds to Sir W. J. Hooker, in phials of pure water. By the 23d of March, seeds sown in earth, in pots immersed in water, and enclosed in a small glass case, with a tropical temperature, vegetated. These were distributed, and came to perfection first at Chatsworth, the seat of the Duke of Devonshire, then at Syon House, the Duke of Northumberland's and subsequently at Kew. At the present time, plants have been successfully grown in several botanical gardens in Great Britain, and on the continent of Europe. On account of this plant having been sent to England during the reighn of Queen Victoria, Dr. Lindley gave it the name Victoria Regia.