Brazilian Tree With 8-Foot-Long Leaves Identified as New Species

The leaves of Coccoloba gigantifolia are as large as a human. Photos courtesy of Rogério GribelPhotos courtesy of Rogério GribelA tree with leaves long enough to be used as a bedspread has officially been recognized as a new species, Mongabay reports.

The Coccoloba gigantifolia, found in the Brazilian Amazon, was first encountered by researchers in 1982, but they were unable to identify it at the time. Its massive leaves, which can grow up to 8 feet long, became locally famous after being displayed by researchers in Rondônia, Brazil. It wasn’t until 2005 that researcher Rogério Gribel and colleague Carlos Alberto Cid Ferreira were able to collect seeds and dying flowers from the tree and plant them. The seedlings flourished and fruited in 2018, after which researchers had the material required to identify the species in 2019, according to Mongabay.

Researchers say the tree is likely rare with a high risk of extinction. The newly identified species has been recorded only in the Madeira River Basin in the Brazilian states of Amazonas and Rondônia so far.