See text Victoria or giant waterlily[4] is a genus of aquatic herbs in the plant family Nymphaeaceae.

[2][6] Victoria species are rhizomatous, aquatic,[2][5] short-lived, perennial herbs with tuberous rhizomes bearing contractile[5] adventitious roots.

[7][8][9] The abaxial leaf surface posesses prominent, reticulate venation.

[2] In Victoria amazonica the leaves are glaberous, with long, hard spines and the underside is red.

In Victoria cruziana the leaves are fuzzy with soft spines and the underside is purple.

[10] The up to 25 cm wide, nocturnal,[11] thermogenic,[12] solitary,[2] actinomorphic, chasmogamous, protogynous flowers[5] have prickly pedicels with 4 primary and 8 secondary air canals.

[13] The 0–15 cm wide,[2] spiny,[13] irregularly dehiscencent fruit[5][13] bears arillate,[5][13] glabrous, smooth or granular seeds.