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Messi's Name Blooms: New Plant Species Honors Football Icon
17 Oct
Summary
- A new endangered plant species in Peru's Andes is named Salvia messii.
- The plant's blue and white flowers resemble Argentina's national colors.
- Salvia messii belongs to the mint family and has medicinal properties.
A distinctive plant species endemic to Peru's Andes mountain range has been named Salvia messii, honoring the renowned former Argentina international footballer, Lionel Messi. This newly classified species is now considered endangered, facing threats from climate change and forest fires. The plant's delicate blue and white flowers bear a striking resemblance to the colors of Argentina's national football shirt.
Salvia messii is part of the mint family, Lamiaceae, and its subspecies are recognized for possessing antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antiseptic qualities. The plant can reach up to 1.5 meters in height and is remarkably adaptable, thriving on rocky, arid slopes at elevations between 2,000 and 2,400 meters. The naming process adhered to international botanical nomenclature rules, with the suffix 'i' signifying ownership, making Salvia messii literally mean 'Messi's plant'.
Research leading to this discovery and naming was conducted by a team including Paul Gonzales of the National University of San Marco's Natural History Museum, Argentinian researcher Rolando Uria, and biologist Jean Capcha-Ramos. This honor follows similar botanical dedications, such as a marine mollusk named after Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha and a sea snail named after former Real Madrid goalkeeper Keylor Navas.
