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Scientists have formally described Salvia messii, an Endangered shrub found only in Peru’s central and southern Andes. Its white and light-blue flowers recall Argentina’s national colors and the shirt Lionel Messi wore for the national team, inspiring the species’ name.
What is the plant named after Lionel Messi?
Salvia messii is a newly recognized species in the mint family, Lamiaceae. The formal description was published on 2 October 2026 in Phytotaxa, volume 777, issue 3, pages 272–282. The paper is authored by Paúl Gonzáles, Rolando Uría and Jean Capcha-Ramos and is available through its DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.777.3.5.
The plant is not a cultivated variety or a commemorative nickname. Salvia messii is a formal taxonomic name for a distinct wild species supported by field observations, microscopic examination and comparisons with herbarium specimens.
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The species is endemic to western Andean landscapes in central and southern Peru, meaning it is naturally known from that region and nowhere else. Researchers recorded it in six localities in the departments of Lima and Ica, at elevations of approximately 2,000 to 2,400 metres.
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- Taxonomy, Glossary, Plant Identification
The plants occur in ecotonal shrublands surrounding western Andean relict forests. These transition zones are described in the species account as an overlooked centre of plant endemism and diversification. Their isolation and specialized conditions can produce plants with very small natural ranges, which also makes them vulnerable when local habitat is damaged.
Why was the flower named after Messi?
The naming rationale is visual. The flowers are white and light blue, colors associated with Argentina and with Messi’s national-team shirt. Those colors motivated the specific epithet messii.
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Scientific names can recognize people for many reasons, including research, conservation or cultural significance. In this case, the authors used a recognizable color connection to honor one of Argentina’s most famous figures while documenting a Peruvian plant that had not previously been formally named.
How did scientists identify the new species?
Field explorations
The research team carried out field explorations from 2023 through 2025. Collections from six sites provided the living and preserved material needed to evaluate whether the plants represented a species not already described.
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Microscopic study
Researchers examined more than ten mature flowers under a microscope. Floral structures are especially important in Salvia identification because closely related species can look similar in general shape while differing in reproductive details.
Herbarium comparisons
The team compared the collected specimens with material in national and international herbarium collections. Combining fresh field data with previously preserved specimens helped establish that the Peruvian plants were sufficiently distinct to warrant a formal species description.
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Key facts about the Messi plant
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Scientific name | Salvia messii |
| Plant family | Lamiaceae, the mint family |
| Natural range | Central and southern Peru’s western Andes |
| Recorded departments | Lima and Ica |
| Recorded elevation | Approximately 2,000–2,400 metres |
| Known localities | Six |
| Flower colors | White and light blue |
| Publication | Phytotaxa, 2 October 2026, volume 777(3), pages 272–282 |
| Conservation assessment | Endangered |
Is Salvia messii endangered?
Yes. The authors assess Salvia messii as Endangered because its known distribution is restricted and the habitat faces recurring fires, road construction and drought.
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1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteThose threats can affect a narrow-range plant disproportionately. A fire, road project or prolonged dry period does not have to cover a large area to remove a significant share of the species’ known habitat. The Endangered assessment therefore reflects both the limited range documented so far and the pressures affecting the surrounding Andean shrublands.
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Why giving the plant a scientific name matters
A formal name allows researchers, conservation agencies and local authorities to refer to the same organism consistently. It also makes the species visible in botanical databases, assessments and land-management decisions. As Kew Senior Research Leader Dr Martin Cheek put it, “it is difficult to protect what we do not know, understand and have a scientific name for.”
The Messi connection may attract public attention, but the scientific value lies in the underlying documentation: where the plant grows, how it differs from related species and what risks it faces. Further surveys could clarify whether additional populations exist beyond the six recorded localities, but the published assessment is based on the distribution and threats currently documented.
Who discovered the new Peruvian flower?
Salvia messii was formally described by botanists Paúl Gonzáles, Rolando Uría and Jean Capcha-Ramos. Their work combined expeditions conducted between 2023 and 2025, examination of mature flowers and comparisons against national and international herbarium collections. “Discovered” in this context means scientifically recognized and described; the plant itself was growing in the Andes before the publication gave it its official name.
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