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

A chance social media encounter has led to the discovery of a new species of giant waterlily hidden in the depths of Colombia’s jungle. This remarkable plant, which is so large it can be seen from space, is already considered critically endangered.

Giant waterlilies, which can measure up to three metres across and support the weight of a small child, are among the oldest flowering plants in existence. They have been present throughout history, from the time of the Egyptians to the works of Monet.

Three years ago, while scrolling through Instagram, Carlos Magdalena, a world-renowned waterlily expert at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, came across a photo taken by Jeremiah Harris, who runs a carnivorous plant nursery in the US. The photo showed someone swimming among several giant waterlilies in the Inírida River in Guainía, Colombia. Harris had mistakenly identified the waterlily as the more common Victoria amazonica.

However, Magdalena suspected something unusual, as the natural range of Victoria amazonica does not extend to the Inírida River. He reached out to Harris to pinpoint the exact location and spent several years analyzing satellite imagery and securing the necessary funds and permits to verify the presence of the waterlily himself.