Social media photo leads to discovery of Victoria colombiana, a critically endangered giant waterlily

Key points

• Carlos Magdalena of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, identified the plant as unusual after seeing a photo by Jeremiah Harris on Instagram three years ago.
• The team confirmed the species through a five-day expedition in the Colombian jungle, finding flowering plants just hours before their return flight.
• The new species, Victoria colombiana, differs from Victoria amazonica in leaf spine orientation and flower shape.
• Researchers estimate only 30 to 50 plants exist in the wild, making the species critically endangered.
• Conservation efforts include seed collection and potential cultivation in Bogotá and Kew Gardens.

Background

Giant waterlilies are ancient flowering plants, with only three known species prior to recent discoveries. In 2022, Victoria boliviana was identified, and a fifth species, Victoria mattogrossensis, is expected to be described soon. This discovery follows a trend of finding new giant waterlily species in isolated regions of South America.

How outlets are covering it

The Guardian emphasizes the emotional and logistical challenges of the expedition, highlighting the role of social media and indigenous knowledge. New Scientist focuses on the broader trend of discovering new giant waterlily species, noting that the total number of known species has nearly doubled in recent years. Both sources agree on the critical endangerment of Victoria colombiana but differ in emphasis: The Guardian highlights the personal journey of the researchers, while New Scientist contextualizes the discovery within a larger pattern of botanical finds.

Why it matters

The discovery of Victoria colombiana underscores the importance of conservation efforts for rare and isolated species. It also demonstrates how modern technology and traditional knowledge can combine to uncover new species in remote areas, highlighting the ongoing gaps in our understanding of global biodiversity.

What to watch

Researchers are working toward an official IUCN Red List designation for Victoria colombiana. Conservation efforts include seed collection and potential cultivation in Bogotá and Kew Gardens to ensure the species' survival.