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2 clusters · 9 sources · 3 days · First seen · Last updated

Discovery of Victoria colombiana waterlily

Overview

Botanists have identified a new species of giant waterlily, named Victoria colombiana, in the Inírida region of eastern Colombia. The discovery was prompted by a social media photograph posted by Jeremiah Harris, a US-based nursery owner, which caught the attention of Carlos Magdalena, a researcher at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Magdalena suspected the plant was distinct from the common Victoria amazonica after noticing its location did not align with known ranges. Following an analysis of satellite imagery and the coordination of an expedition involving the Bogotá Botanical Garden and local indigenous communities, the species was located in an isolated lake.

A study published in the journal Phytotaxa confirmed the new species, noting that its massive leaves can reach up to three metres in diameter. The Victoria colombiana is considered critically endangered, with researchers estimating a wild population of only 30 to 50 individual plants.

Entities

Carlos Magdalena · Victoria colombiana · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · Jeremiah Harris · Inírida

Timeline

  1. [CULTURE] 2 sources
    Victoria colombiana: New giant water lily species discovered in Colombia

    Botanists have discovered a new species of giant water lily, Victoria colombiana, in the Colombian jungle after spotting it in a social media photo.

  2. [CULTURE] 7 sources
    Victoria colombiana discovered after Instagram photo sparks botanical search

    A new species of giant waterlily, Victoria colombiana, has been discovered in Colombia after scientists spotted it in an Instagram photo posted by a nursery owner.

Sources

efeverde.com · gbnews.com · gizmodo.com · news.yam.md · papergeek.fr · revistagalileu.globo.com · spotmedia.ro · veja.abril.com.br · wilder.pt