"Messi's plant": The new species discovered – and the surprising reason for its name

Researchers from Peru and Argentina have identified a new rare plant species in the Andes, naming it after Lionel Messi due to its light blue and white flowers that resemble the Argentine national team colors. The plant, Salvia messii, is endangered.

Researchers from Peru and Argentina have identified a new rare plant species in the Andes and decided to name it after football star Lionel Messi. The plant, scientifically named Salvia messii, features flowers in shades of light blue and white that resemble the colors of the Argentine national team. It belongs to the mint family, can reach a height of about one and a half meters, and grows on rocky slopes at elevations of 2,000 to 2,400 meters in central and southern Peru. The study was led by Paul Gonzales, Rolando Uría, and Jean Capcha-Ramos, and the findings were published in early October in a scientific journal. Alongside the discovery, the researchers revealed that the plant has already been classified as an endangered species due to climate change and forest fires.