Texas Scientists STUNNED—New Species UNEARTHED at Big Bend National Park!
A groundbreaking new plant species from the daisy family emerges at Big Bend National Park in Brewster County, Texas. 🌐 #News #BrewsterCountyTX #Texas #Science
BREWSTER COUNTY, TX – Deep in the rugged expanse of Big Bend National Park, located here in Brewster County, Texas, a remarkable find unfolded last year. Park staff stumbled upon tiny, unfamiliar plants tucked among desert rocks, sparking a scientific journey that’s just now coming to light. On February 25, 2025, the National Park Service revealed this previously unknown species, a fresh addition to the world’s botanical catalog.
A Chance Encounter in the Desert
In March 2024, a volunteer from the park’s botany program and a supervisory interpretive ranger noticed the odd plants in a remote northern corner of Big Bend. Their fuzzy leaves and unique flowers stood out against the arid landscape.
After snapping photos and digging into databases, herbarium records, and expert opinions, the pair hit a wall—no match existed. Online posts of the images fueled curiosity, but answers remained elusive.
Science Steps In
Experts from the California Academy of Sciences, Sul Ross University, and Centro Interdisciplinario de Investigación para el Desarrollo Integral Regional joined park staff to investigate.
Genetic testing confirmed the plant wasn’t just a new species—it marked an entirely new genus in the Asteraceae, or daisy, family. Named Ovicula biradiata for its wooly, sheep-like foliage and twin ray petals, it’s also dubbed the “wooly devil” in common terms.
What Lies Ahead
“Now that the species has been identified and named, there is a tremendous amount we have yet to learn about it,” said Big Bend National Park Superintendent Anjna O’Connor in a statement.
“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.”
Researchers are eager to uncover more about this desert gem.
Big Bend’s Diverse Legacy
Spanning 801,165 acres, Big Bend National Park boasts a rich tapestry of ecosystems, from riverbanks to low desert and high-elevation woodlands.
This biodiversity has yielded surprises before, like the fossil of a new duck-billed dinosaur (Malefica deckerti) and a once-thought-extinct oak species (Quercus tardifolia).
The wooly devil now joins this list, etching another mark in the park’s scientific story.
RELATED TOPICS: Lifestyle | Texas | Science
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