The name Messi was left for Andes Mountains Rare

The researchers found a new and rare species of plants endemically in the Andes mountains, the central and southern regions of Peru named Salvia messii.

To quote the NYTimes, this endangered species was named after an Argentine soccer star, Lionel Messi.

Salvia messii emits a blue and white alloy which is very identical to the jersey pride of the Argentina national team.

The plant of the Lamiacae is able to grow to an extra half-meter high and have the extra endurance to survive on the rocky and barren slope at 2,000 to 2,400 meters above sea level.

The lead research team of the San Marco Paul Gonzales Museum of Natural History called the existence of this species crucial because of its highly vulnerable population conditions in the wild.

"This species is endangered especially due to the impact of extreme climate change and raging forest fires in the Andes region," said Paul Gonzales in his scientific report quoted NYTimes, Sunday (18 / 10).

This Latin-based scientific naming is applied according to international rules, where the end of the letter 'i' is added to the player's last name to mark ownership.

Argentine researchers involved in this study, Rolando Uria revealed an emotional reason behind the election of the former Albiceste player 39 years old.

"We want to perpetuate the legacy and reliability of Lionel Messi in the field into the name of a plant that has extraordinary adaptability in this harsh environment. Salvia messii literally means' Messi 'plant,' said Rolando Uria.

This endemic species is also known to be a relative of subspecies, rich in medical benefits, such as antioxidants, antiinflammatory, antiseptic.

Flora and fauna naming phenomena using the name of the green field star is not the first time.

Earlier, Spanish researchers Jesus Ortea also named a new marine molluscan species from the kiper of Cape Verde Vozinha veteran as well as perpetuating the name of former goalie Real Madrid Keylor Navas for his tiny sea species in 2019.