Instagram photo reveals rare giant lily in Colombian forests

A passing Instagram post led to an exceptional scientific discovery in Colombia, after it emerged that a giant aquatic plant featured in tourist photos belonged to a species never before scientifically documented, with only a few dozen specimens known to exist in the wild.

According to the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, the story began five years ago when a researcher noticed images posted by an American tourist of giant water lilies near the Inírida River in an area not previously known to harbor similar species.

The researcher used satellite imagery before organizing an expedition in collaboration with the Bogotá Botanical Garden and members of indigenous communities. During the five-day journey, the researchers found plants that were not in bloom, which hindered precise identification.

On the final night, the team set out by boat at 1 a.m. and arrived just before dawn at a hidden lake deep in the forest, where they found the sought-after flower.

The new species was named Victoria colombyana, and its circular leaves can reach up to two meters in diameter.

Researchers estimate that only 30 to 50 plants remain in the wild, amid efforts to assess the risk of extinction and protect the species by collecting seeds and propagating them in botanical gardens.