SciencePlant selfie in Colombian jungle leads to ‘jaw-dropping’ giant waterlily discovery

A social-media photo of someone among giant waterlilies in Colombia’s Inírida River led researchers to find a new species, Victoria colombiana. They estimate only 30 to 50 remain in the wild; the plant is considered critically endangered, and the team is pursuing an IUCN Red List designation.

Plant discoveryColombiaGiant waterlilyEndangered species

TThe Guardian★★☆☆☆2026-10-09 04:00Original