An Instafamous giant water lily is confirmed as a new species — and critically endangered
A chance sighting of photos on Instagram, then a five-day expedition, including a last-minute, late-night detour in a Colombian rainforest — that’s what it took for researchers to confirm a new-to-science species of giant water lily. The plant has such large leaves the researchers could also spot it from space, according to a new study. […]
In 2021, an Instagram post caught the attention of giant water lily expert Carlos Magdalena. The post, shared by Jeremiah Harris, showcased a giant water lily in Colombia's Inírida River. Harris tagged the plant as a wild individual of Victoria amazonica, a known species of giant water lily. However, Magdalena, a horticulturist at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, realized that no known species of South American giant water lilies from the Victoria genus had been reported from the Orinoco Basin, where the Inírida River flows. This sparked Magdalena's interest.
Utilizing satellite imagery, Magdalena identified several floating pads of Victoria water lilies in the Inírida and nearby lakes. These leaves, measuring over 3 meters (10 feet) in diameter, were distinctive enough to be spotted from space. Consequently, Magdalena assembled a team of researchers, including Nilo Rodríguez, Jaime Hernández, and Gustavo Melo, to investigate further.
Written by urgent.news from Mongabay's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
