Researchers discover new plant species in Big Bend National Park

Scientists have discovered a new plant species in Big Bend National Park in Texas. The finding is significant for conservationists and botanists. It’s not just a new species, but an entirely new plant genus.

Deb Manley, a volunteer with the park’s botanical program, found the unusual plant in March last year. She took photos of the fuzzy plant with yellow flowers. She then posted the photos on iNaturalist, an online network where people share biodiversity information.

Something completely new
Park staff couldn’t identify the plant. Manley worked with scientists to learn more. They soon realized it was something completely new. The plant was nicknamed ‘wooly devil’ because of its fuzzy appearance and its discovery location, Devil’s Den. Its scientific name is Ovicula biradiata.

This is the first time since 1976 that a new plant genus has been discovered in an American national park. That’s when July gold was found in Death Valley National Park. New species help conservationists better understand how climate change affects ecosystems. They develop better ways to protect plants and animals.

Tremendous amount
Anjna O’Connor, the superintendent of Big Bend National Park, looks forward to learning more about the plant. “Now that the species has been identified and named, there is a tremendous amount we have yet to learn about it”, she told the National Park Service. “I’m excited to discover whether there are other populations in the park, details of its life cycle, what are the pollinators, and due to the current drought, if it will be observed at all this spring.”