is a tropical species of flowering plant, of the Nymphaeaceae family of water lilies native to South America, primarily Brazil, Bolivia, Argentina and Paraguay.

[5] The floral stigma are attached to a cup that is protected by spines, and the floral cup begins heating up in the bud, then, as the flower opens, it releases a strong sweet scent to attract pollinating beetles of the genus Cyclocephala of the family Scarabaeidae,[6] then continues to provide heat to the flower while the beetles are pollinating.

[9] Victoria cruziana was discovered in Bolivia on one of many expeditions through the country by Alcide d'Orbigny whose presence was sponsored by Andrés de Santa Cruz.

The first collected specimens were returned to France where they were named in honor of Santa Cruz by Alcide's brother, Charles Henry Dessalines d'Orbigny.

[citation needed] It was first described in 1840 by Alcide d'Orbigny in Annales des Sciences Naturelles; Botanique, Ser.