“New Giant Water Lily Species Victoria colombiana Discovered in Colombia After Instagram Si” — what this page in the network covers. A chance Instagram post has led scientists to identify a new species of giant water lily, Victoria colombiana, according to a paper in the journal Phytotaxa. The Colombian giant water lily becomes only the fourth known species in the genus Victoria, joining the ranks of the world’s largest aquatic plants with leaves that can span up to 2 meters (6.6 feet). The discovery began when a researcher spotted an unusual water lily in a photo on social media, prompting a closer look at specimens in Colombia.
This finding highlights how citizen science and digital platforms can accelerate botanical discoveries, especially in understudied regions. The new species is distinct from its relatives, including the famous Victoria amazonica, based on subtle differences in leaf shape, flower color, and seed morphology. This listing links straight to the original page, where the content is available in full.