Native to shallow freshwater lakes and bayous in the Amazon basin, the world”s largest water lily is Victoria amazonica, whose gigantic floating leaves measure up to 3 m (10 ft) across, and are held in place upon an underwater stalk 7-8 m (23-26 ft) long. The undersurface of its leaves are supported by a sturdy series of rib-like crossridges to keep the leaves flat and also prevent them from collapsing. Indeed, it is the pattern of these ribs that is said to have inspired the network of metal girders around which the Crystal Palace was built for the Great Exhibition in London, UK, of 1851.