New Delhi, Oct. 22 -- Lionel Messi got a botanical tribute after a recently discovered plant species has led a flower named after the Argentina's biggest football superstar in modern era. Named as Salvia messii in honor of Messi, the plant is a native to the Andes mountain range of central and southern Peru.

In fact, Salvia messii is an endangered species because of "restricted distribution" according to the October edition of botany journal Phytotaxa. The extra "i" in the name of the plant indicated the possession under whom the species is named. Salvia messii can be called as "Messi's sage".

Salvia messii grows on rocky, arid slopes between 2000 and 2400 metres above sea level. The species belongs to the mint family Lamiaceae, which h...