How a plant selfie in Colombian jungle led to ‘jaw dropping’ giant waterlily find

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Who published it, and when

How it spread - 4 original reports

1. Fri, 9 October 2026

   2 reports
   • The Guardian World04:00
     How a plant selfie in Colombian jungle led to ‘jaw dropping’ giant waterlily find

     Species with leaves large enough to be seen from space is already critically endangered – and plans are afoot to protect it A chance social media encounter has led to the race-against-time discovery of a new species of giant waterlily that has until now been hidden in the depths of Colombia’s jungle. But the plant, which is so huge it is visible from space, is already considered critically endangered. Continue reading...

   • ABC (Spain)10:48first to report
     El asturiano que descubrió una nueva especie de nenúfar en unas fotos de instagram

     Hace cinco años, el gijonés Carlos Magdalena, investigador en los Jardines Botánicos Reales de Kew (Londres), vio en Instagram unas fotos tomadas en la región colombiana de Inírida en las que aparecía un nenúfar gigante. Las imágenes habían sido captadas por el director de un vivero de plantas carnívoras en EE.UU, que identificó erróneamente la nueva especie como la más común, Victoria amazonica . Sin embargo, Magdalena, conocido como el 'mesías de las plantas' por su capacidad para...

2. Tue, 20 October 2026

   1 report
   • Il Fatto Quotidiano (Italy)13:11
     “Questa è una di quelle storie straordinarie in cui si fa un’incredibile scoperta per caso”: vede sui social una foto con una ninfea gigante e realizza che si tratta di una nuova specie

     È bastata una foto pubblicata su Instagram per arrivare alla scoperta di una nuova specie di ninfea. La scoperta effettuata recentemente da un botanista di fama internazionale, Carlos Magdalena, responsabile del Tropical Nursery dei Royal Botanic Gardens di Kew, a Londra, parte infatti da una semplice fotografia vista sui social. A postare lo scatto rivelatore […] L'articolo “Questa è una di quelle storie straordinarie in cui si fa un’incredibile scoperta per caso”: vede sui social una foto con...

3. Sat, 24 October 2026

   1 report
   • Times of India15:26
     Instagram photos of giant water lilies in Colombia lead researchers to new species

     Researchers have unearthed an astonishing new species of giant water lily, named Victoria Colombiana, in Colombia, thanks to a viral Instagram post that sparked further investigation through satellite imagery. A collaborative five-day expedition involving scientists and Indigenous communities revealed just a handful of specimens, making their identification a challenge. In light of environmental threats, concerted conservation efforts are now in motion to safeguard this rare botanical treasure.