Scientists discover new giant water lily species in Colombia

Researchers identified a new species of giant water lily, named Victoria colombiana, in the Inírida region of Colombia.

The plant is characterized by large leaves that can reach 2 meters in diameter. Experts estimate that only 30 to 50 specimens of this species remain in its natural habitat. The discovery began when Carlos Magdalena, a researcher at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, noticed unusual details in Instagram photos posted by Jeremiah Harris.

Harris believed he had photographed the common Victoria amazonica, but Magdalena suspected a different species. He used satellite imagery to examine the Inírida River area, which confirmed the presence of the plant in the region. A joint expedition involving the Bogotá Botanical Garden and indigenous guides explored the Inírida and Guaviare rivers. The team initially struggled to find the plants until Gustavo Melo, an indigenous boatman, led them to a new site.

There, they found five additional plants, including one in flower, which allowed the team to collect samples for identification. Maarten Christenhusz leads the taxonomic study of the specimens, which are now kept at the Bogotá Botanical Garden Herbarium. This discovery adds a fourth species to the Victoria genus. Because the population is so small, scientists may classify the plant as critically endangered on the IUCN Red List.

Researchers are also considering creating a population in an accessible lake to support ecotourism and conservation efforts.