On the rocky slopes of the Central and Southern Peruvian Andes, where the wind roams among sparse shrubs, flowers of soft blue and white hues unexpectedly flare up amid the gray stones. From a distance they resemble the flag of Argentina, raised at an altitude of between 2000 and 2400 meters.
Botanists have described this species as Salvia messii and named it in honor of Lionel Messi. The plant belongs to the Lamiaceae family, to which mint, rosemary, and basil also belong, and it grows to approximately one and a half meters. Its leaves and stems contain essential oils, which is why the plant is classified as aromatic.
The article describing it was published on 2 October 2026 in the journal Phytotaxa (volume 777, issue 3). The authors are Paul Gonzáles, Rolando Uria, and Jean Capcha-Ramos. After comparing the specimens with already known species, they became convinced that they had before them an endemic of Peru new to science. According to the rules of botanical nomenclature, the suffix "i" in the Latin name indicates that the species is named in honor of a person.
The flowers with a white tube and a light-blue upper petal became the main reason for such a name. The resemblance to the colors of the Argentine national team proved too exact to ignore. However, in the scientific paper itself the emphasis is placed on something else: the species was found in the transitional zone of shrub thickets surrounding the western relict forests of the Andes. The authors believe that such habitats have until now been underestimated as centers of endemism and speciation.
Behind the striking story lies a troubling reality. The species is known from only six locations, and its range is limited to the central and southern part of the Peruvian Andes. Because of such a narrow distribution, the researchers assessed Salvia messii as endangered (category EN). The main threats to its habitat are forest fires and climate change.
Such vulnerability is typical of Andean relict communities: populations are small, ranges are narrow, and even a slight change in climate or economic activity can irreversibly reduce unique diversity.
The name, which pays tribute to an athlete who has inspired millions, at the same time draws attention to remote corners of the Andes. Thus a scientific discovery becomes a bridge between humanity's passion for football and the need to protect nature, which does not regenerate on demand.
Every newly described species reminds us: even in the harshest conditions, the Earth continues to surprise and delight.
