The 150th anniversary of the first Giant Victoria Water Lily to be grown in Oxford is being celebrated at the Botanic Garden.

The lily has been specially grown from seed and cultivated in the same pond and greenhouse where the original was grown in 1851.

The lily, which can grow six feet in two weeks, is native to South America and was introduced to Oxford 150 years ago by the botanist, Professor Charles Daubeny.

Caption goes here

He built the special greenhouse and pond to cultivate the enormous lily in Oxford after he fell in love with the first specimen grown in England, at Chatsworth House in Derbyshire.

Oxford Botanic Garden curator Timothy Walker said: "Now we only grow it on special occasions.

"This one is an annual lily grown from seed in the original pond as the first lily. It really is magnificent."

The garden is open between 9am and 4.15pm.