The number of known species of giant waterlilies has nearly doubled, following the identification of three new species in recent years. One of these was found with the help of social media and satellite photographs, which helped researchers locate and confirm the plant in the wild.
The new discoveries significantly expand the genus, bringing the total known species from a handful to roughly twice that number. Because the report is based on a single source, there are no competing accounts to compare, but the article stresses that modern tools like satellite imagery and online photos are increasingly useful for finding plants that may otherwise be overlooked.