Plant species in Peru named after footballer Lionel Messi
Researchers have named a newly discovered flower after the Argentine football star, citing the plant's colours matching his national team's jersey.
At a glance
- A newly described plant species in Peru has been named Salvia messii after footballer Lionel Messi
- The plant produces light blue and white flowers matching Argentina's national colours
- The species belongs to the mint family and grows on high-altitude rocky slopes in the Andes
- Scientists have classified it as endangered in preliminary assessments
A newly identified plant species found in the Andes mountains of Peru has been named Salvia messii after footballer Lionel Messi. The species, which belongs to the mint family, produces light blue and white flowers that match the colours of Argentina's national jersey.
The plant grows on rocky mountain slopes at elevations between 2,000 and 2,400 metres and can reach up to 1.5 metres in height. Scientists have classified the species as endangered in their preliminary conservation assessment, though the report does not specify the reasons for this classification.
Why it matters
The naming reflects how Messi's global prominence extends beyond football into unexpected fields such as scientific nomenclature.
Original reporting
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