New species of giant water lily visible from space discovered in Colombia
Scientists have confirmed the existence of Victoria colombiana in the Inírida River, where this genus had not previously been found, reports the journal Phytotaxa.
A new species of giant water lily was discovered in the Colombian jungle after botanist Carlos Magdalena noticed it in an Instagram photograph. The plant reaches three meters in diameter and is visible from satellites.
An expedition confirmed that Victoria colombiana differs from other species in morphology and habitat range. Only 30–50 specimens remain in the wild, making the species critically vulnerable. Scientists plan to include it in the IUCN Red List and begin cultivation in botanical gardens.
The discovery was made possible through collaboration with local communities and analysis of satellite imagery. Researchers are currently collecting seeds for cultivation in Bogotá and the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
