Lionel Messi honored with new plant species discovery in Peru

A new plant species discovered in the Peruvian Andes has been officially named ‘Salvia messii’ in honor of Argentine footballer Lionel Messi. The discovery was published in the scientific journal Phytotaxa by an international team of researchers, including Paul Gonzales from the National University of San Marcos, Rolando Uria, and Jean Capcha-Ramos.

The plant is an aromatic shrub from the Lamiaceae family that can grow up to 1.5 meters tall. It is characterized by light blue and white flowers, colors that evoke the national jersey of Argentina. The species grows on rocky slopes at altitudes between 2,000 and 2,400 meters above sea level, specifically in the Lima and Ica regions.

Despite its unique characteristics, Salvia messii has been classified as an endangered species. Researchers noted that its limited geographic distribution makes it highly vulnerable to environmental threats, including forest fires, droughts, climate change, and road construction.