New Andean plant species named Salvia messii after Lionel Messi

An international team of scientists has discovered a new plant species in the Peruvian Andes and named it ‘Salvia messii’ in honor of Argentine footballer Lionel Messi. The discovery, published in the journal Phytotaxa, identifies the plant as an aromatic shrub belonging to the Lamiaceae family.

The plant is characterized by its light blue and white flowers, colors that researchers noted resemble the Argentine flag. Growing on rocky slopes of the Andes at altitudes between 2,000 and 2,400 meters, the shrub can reach up to 1.5 meters in height. The Latinized name ‘messii’ signifies that the flower ‘belongs to’ Messi.

Researchers including Paul Gonzáles from the Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, Rolando Uría, and Jean Capcha-Ramos identified the species after analyzing specimens collected between 2023 and 2025. Due to its specific habitat in mountainous scrublands, the species is considered endangered. The plant also contains high concentrations of flavonoids with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antiseptic properties.