A new species of giant water lily has been identified, with researchers confirming its existence after spotting photos on Instagram. Botanist Carlos Magdalena noted the plant in images posted online, recognizing it as potentially new because known species of the genus Victoria had not been reported from the Orinoco Basin, where the photos were geolocated.
Magdalena utilized satellite imagery to confirm the presence of several large Victoria water lily pads in the InÃrida River and nearby lakes. This led to an expedition where researchers collaborated to officially confirm the new species. The plant’s leaves are over 3 meters (10 feet) in diameter, large enough to be visible from space.
Source: Mongabay