Latest news with #Oviculabiradiata
Yahoo
25-02-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
New plant species discovered at Big Bend National Park
BIG BEND NATIONAL PARK, Texas (KMID/KPEJ)– Two park employees in Big Bend National Park encountered a tiny plant that they did not recognize. After further examination, it was revealed that they had discovered a brand new plant species. In March 2024, a volunteer with the Big Bend National Park botany program and a supervising interpretive park ranger discovered several extremely tiny plants among the desert rocks in a remote spot in the park's northern reaches. Upon closer examination, they noticed that the fuzzy foliage and intriguing flowers was unlike anything they had ever seen before. Using images of the plants they had taken, they reviewed species databases, herbarium records, plant taxonomy publications, and regional specialists, and even uploaded the photos online to aid in their identification. The plant was officially named Ovicula biradiata, inspired by its interesting appearance. The name originates from Ovicula, meaning 'tiny sheep,' referencing the white wool covering the leaves, and biradiata, referring to the two noticeable ray petals in each flower. Researchers who have worked with the plant have also given it the name 'wooly' or 'wooly devil.' '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. '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.' Ovicula biradiata joins the over 1,200 species of plants that are found within Big Bend National Park. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
25-02-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
A New Species of Sunflower Was Just Discovered in Texas
The thought of spring and the arrival of all those blooming flowers can brighten even the dreariest of winter days. And if you're desperately grasping for anything to bring a little sunshine into your life as the cold days still linger, you'll love this little nugget of news: A new species of sunflower was just discovered in Texas. That's right! According to the California Academy of Sciences, a park volunteer Deb Manley first observed the plant at Big Bend National Park back in March 2024. After uploading the unknown species to a community science app, an international team of botanists determined it was not only a new species of sunflower, but an entirely new genus a well. It's been nearly 50 years since a new genus was identified in a national park. The last time was 1976, so this is pretty exciting news! But before you get all excited to grow sunflowers in your garden this year, you might want to take a look at the new family member first. Meet the Ovicula biradiata, also known as the wooly devil. Eek! Far from the types of sunflowers that Ree Drummond and other fans call "so beautiful," this small, furry relative was confirmed to have genetic similarities after some DNA sequencing. "O. biradiata is a member of the sunflower family, although it does not resemble its sunburst-shaped relatives at first glance," explains Academy researcher Isaac Lichter Marck, PhD. Even if you find the fuzzy white foliage endearing (hey, all nature is beautiful, right?), the wooly devil would most likely not thrive in your plant hardiness zone, as Big Bend is located in the Chihuahuan Desert. It grows in harsh rocky terrains and it only blooms after rainfall. And unlike the towering stalks of other sunflowers, this new find is a "belly plant," which is best observed when lying on the ground. So while it may not make an ideal summer garden flower, the wooly devil does show promise elsewhere. "Under the microscope, we noticed specific glands that are known to possess compounds with anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory properties in other plants within the sunflower family," notes Academy co-author Keily Peralta. There's still so much to learn about this species given its new discovery. But researchers are hard at work and park visitors are encouraged to document their observations to the iNaturalist app to assist in the efforts. And while the world awaits updates, at least we can say: Welcome to the sunflower family, you little wooly devil. Every day, your garden's tiniest visitors are hard at work. The lovely little butterflies you see floating by and those always-busy bees are transferring pollen from flower to flower so plants can reproduce to make fruits and seeds. And though you may not have ever thought about it, without our pollinators, there's no food for any of us. These winged wonders are what keep your vegetable garden thriving! That's why you'll want to check out these plants that attract pollinators, including several spring flowers and more to bring life to your garden. Unfortunately, in some places, pollinator populations have been affected by misuse of chemicals or habitat destruction. So what's the best thing you can do to help? Plant flowers to make your garden a welcoming place for different kinds of pollinators including bees, moths, wasps, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Make sure to plant in clumps or swaths, rather than one flower here or there, so your visitors will find the wealth. And if you don't have a big backyard, you can plant them in containers and pots that will also add some variety to your landscaping ideas! Finally, if you're planting perennial flowers, which come back for many seasons, make sure they'll survive winters in your USDA Plant Hardiness Zone. Now that you know why you should add plants that attract pollinators, here are a few great varieties to add to your garden! You Might Also Like 15 Best Denim Jacket Outfit Ideas to Pull from Your Closet 10 Best Shampoos for Red Hair Like Ree Drummond's
USA Today
25-02-2025
- Science
- USA Today
Meet the 'Wooly Devil,' the new plant species discovered at Big Bend National Park
Meet the 'Wooly Devil,' the new plant species discovered at Big Bend National Park Walking through the boundless landscape of red rocks and limestone cliffs in Texas' Big Bend National Park last March, a volunteer and a park ranger came across a plant they didn't recognize. It was tiny – measuring only a few centimeters in length – with striking red petals and green leaves covered in what appeared to be thick white wool. Deb Manley, the volunteer, snapped pictures of the plant and uploaded them to the app iNaturalists, where botanists from around the globe chimed in to help identify the mysterious plant. But with no immediate answers, she and the ranger consulted herbarium records, plant publications and local experts. Still, the plant's identity eluded them and raised questions. Now, more than a year later, scientists have confirmed that what they came across in the arid Chihuahuan Desert was an entirely new plant species – the first such discovery to take place within a U.S. National Park in nearly half a century, Big Bend National Park announced on Monday. A newly published study in the botanical journal PhytoKeys said the Ovicula biradiata, or the "Wooly Devil" as botanists have come to call it, is not only a new species but an entirely new genus within the daisy and sunflower family. "O. biradiata is a member of the sunflower family, although it does not resemble its sunburst-shaped relatives at first glance," Isaac Lichter Marck, one of the authors of the study, told the California Academy of Sciences, which was involved in the research. "After sequencing its DNA and comparing it with other specimens in the Academy's herbarium, we discovered that this small, fuzzy plant is not only a new species within the sunflower group, but it is also distinct enough from its closest relatives to warrant an entirely new genus.' The plant ranges in size from less than one centimeter to 3 to 7 centimeters across, researchers said. The Wooly Devil is what botanists refer to as a "belly plant," small plants that can only be property seen while laying on the ground. As suggested by its location – among desert rocks in a remote area in the northern reaches of the park – the plant can survive in rocky, drought-stricken environments. More: How National Park Service layoffs could stretch some parks to their limits Its name is inspired by its appearance. Ovicula means tiny sheep, a references to the white 'wool' that covers the small plant's leaves. Biradiata is a reference to the strap-shaped petals in each flower. '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. '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.' While scientists will study it at the park, other researchers are investigating whether it has any possible medicinal properties. Keily Peralta, a coauthor of the study, told the California Academy of Sciences that she and others researchers have noticed the "Wooly Devil" has glands that are "known to possess compounds with anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory properties in other plants within the sunflower family." More: The National Park Service is grappling with massive layoffs. What you should know. 'While further research is needed to determine these properties, this discovery underscores the potential knowledge we stand to gain from preserving plant diversity in fragile desert ecosystems," she added. Despite the plant's exceptional resilience in the desert, the Wooly Devil, like countless plant species across the globe, faces an existential threat from climate change, Marck said. 'As climate change pushes deserts to become hotter and drier, highly specialized plants like the wooly devil face extinction," he said. "We have only observed this plant in three narrow locations across the northernmost corner of the park, and it's possible that we've documented a species that is already on its way out.'
Yahoo
25-02-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
New species of fuzzy sunflower found by national park volunteer
A photo uploaded to popular citizen science social network iNaturalist is a snapshot of the first new genus and species of plant discovered in a US national park in almost 50 years. The wooly devil (Ovicula biradiata) was found in Big Bend National Park in Texas with bright red petals and is a member of the sunflower family. It is detailed in a study recently published in the journal PhytoKeys. Big Bend National Park is located within the Chihuahuan Desert. This well-studied region is the largest and most biologically diverse warm desert in North America and is home to coyotes, quail, wild horses, alligator lizards, and more. While the Chihuahuan Desert has been the subject of several botanical surveys over the last 100 years, this is the first new plant genus in a national park that scientists have described since 1976. That plant–the mountain-dwelling shrub July gold (Dedeckera eurekensis)–was found in Death Valley National Park. 'While many assume that the plants and animals within our country's national parks have probably been documented by now, scientists still make surprising new discoveries in these iconic protected landscapes,' Isaac Lichter Marck, a study co-author and California Academy of Sciences plant taxonomist and ecologist, said in a statement. 'O. biradiata is a member of the sunflower family, although it does not resemble its sunburst-shaped relatives at first glance.' The team sequenced the plant's DNA and compared it with other specimens in the California Academy of Sciences' herbarium. The sequencing revealed that this small and fuzzy plant is both a new species within the sunflower group and distinct enough to be a completely new genus. Park volunteer and study co-author Deb Manley first spotted the plant in March 2024 and harnessed the power of international botanist crowdsourcing to identify this unknown species. O. biradiata is the type of plant that botanists colloquially call a 'belly plant.' These are small and discreet plants that can only be properly observed by lying on the ground. It is a distinctive wild flower with furry white foliage and maroon-colored ray petals. O. biradiata is also quite an ephemeral species, only blooming after rain. It is found in harsh rocky habitats with limited rainfall and grows alongside drought-tolerant shrubs, such as ocotillo, hedgehog cactus, and creosote. 'Plants that thrive in deserts are often quite unique, having evolved specific mechanisms to withstand the extreme drought-and-deluge conditions of these arid landscapes—from water-storing structures to rapid life cycles triggered by rain,' said Lichter Marck. 'But as climate change pushes deserts to become hotter and drier, highly specialized plants like the wooly devil face extinction. We have only observed this plant in three narrow locations across the northernmost corner of the park, and it's possible that we've documented a species that is already on its way out.' Ovicula biradiata's name was inspired by its wooly appearance and the bright red petals. Ovicula means 'tiny sheep,' and refers to the thick, white hairs that cover its leaves. It also honors one of Big Bend's most iconic endangered species–the bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis). Biradiata, or 'bi-radial,' refers to the two ray florets loaded on each of the plant's flowers. The team working with the plant affectionately called the fuzzy flower the 'wooly devil,' which has become its suggested common name. [ Related: Parasitic orchids ditch photosynthesis for fungi. ] 'Now that the species has been identified and named, there is a tremendous amount we have yet to learn about it,' study co-author and Big Bend National Park botanist Carolyn Whiting said in a statement. 'I'm excited to discover whether there are other populations in the park, the details of its life cycle, what pollinates it, and whether we'll observe it this spring, given the current drought.' Visitors to Big Bend can contribute by documenting wildflowers they encounter following upcoming spring rains and uploading their observations to iNaturalist. The team from this study will also be probing to see if the wooly devil's potential medicinal properties. 'Under the microscope, we noticed specific glands that are known to possess compounds with anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory properties in other plants within the sunflower family,' study co-author and California Academy of Sciences researcher Keily Peralta said in a statement. 'While further research is needed to determine these properties, this discovery underscores the potential knowledge we stand to gain from preserving plant diversity in fragile desert ecosystems.'
Yahoo
25-02-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
New plant species discovered at Big Bend National Park in Texas
A new plant species called the Wooly Devil has been discovered at Big Bend National Park in Texas, the National Park Service announced Monday. The Wooly Devil, or Ovicula biradiata, was first spotted by botany volunteer Deb Manley and a park ranger in March 2024, according to the park service. The tiny, fuzzy-looking plants with yellow flowers growing among desert rocks in a remote area on the northern end of the park were not anything like they had seen before. After searching plant databases, consulting experts and even asking for answers online, park officials said they began to realize that they had found something special. It's the first time a new species of plant has been found at a U.S. national park in nearly 50 years, according to the California Academy of Sciences, which joined Big Bend National Park staff and Sul Ross State University to study the Wooly Devil. According to researchers, who published their findings in peer-reviewed botanical journal PhytoKeys, the Wooly Devil is in the daisy family and it is closely related to paperflowers and bitterweed, both of which have yellow flowers. However, DNA analysis showed that the plant is so genetically distinct that it had to be considered a new genus. The Wooly Devil is much smaller than its sister plants, according to the researchers, ranging from less than 1 centimeter to 3-7 centimeters across. It was given the formal name Ovicula, meaning tiny sheep, and biradiata, a reference to the two ray-like petals in each flower. "Now that the species has been identified and named, there is a tremendous amount we have yet to learn about it," Big Bend National Park Superintendent Anjna O'Connor said in the news release. Big Bend, in southwest Texas, is massive, covering more than 800,000 acres and part of the Chihuahuan Desert, which is considered the most diverse desert ecosystem in the Western Hemisphere. Lichter Marck, one of the taxonomists who studied the Wooly Devil, told the California Academy of Sciences that plants thriving in the desert are quite unique because they have evolved to withstand extreme weather conditions — but climate change still poses a threat to their existence. "We have only observed this plant in three narrow locations across the northernmost corner of the park, and it's possible that we've documented a species that is already on its way out," Marck said. Holocaust survivors on bearing witness Latest news on Pope Francis' health after lung infection, kidney failure Behind the scenes of "Survivor" Season 48
