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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Environment
Pippa Neill Environment reporter

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

A man floats among giant waterlilies, his eyes closed and smiling
Jeremiah Harris in one of the pictures he posted on Instagram that was seen by waterlily expert Carlos Magdalena. Photograph: Jeremiah Harris

A chance social media encounter has led to the race-against-time discovery of a new species of giant waterlily that has until now been hidden in the depths of Colombia’s jungle.

But the plant, which is so huge it is visible from space, is already considered critically endangered.

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