New giant water lily species found in Colombia, visible from space

Kew horticulturist Carlos Magdalena spotted Victoria lilies in an Instagram photo from Colombia's Inírida River, where no known species grows, and confirmed them via satellite imagery. An expedition described the new species Victoria colombiana and a second one, V. mattogrossensis; only 30–50 wild V. colombiana plants remain.

• The new species is named Victoria colombiana; the second is V. mattogrossensis
• Only 30–50 wild V. colombiana plants are estimated to remain
• The lilies were located via satellite imagery of the Inírida River in Guainía
• The team is seeking Critically Endangered status from the IUCN Red List