New Plant Species Discovered At Big Bend National Park

Introducing the Wooly Devil, a newly discovered plant so distinctive, it’s not just a new species, but best classified as an entirely new genus within the Asteraceae  (Daisy) family. The plant was first noticed in Big Bend National Park in March 2024 when a volunteer with the park’s botany program and a supervisory interpretive park ranger noticed some very tiny plants sprinkled among the desert rocks in a remote area in the northern reaches of Big Bend. Upon closer examination, they realized that the fuzzy foliage and interesting flower looked like nothing they had seen before.
 
Utilizing photos of the plant, they consulted species databases, herbarium records, plant taxonomy publications, area experts, and even posted the photos online to help identify their discovery. Excitement grew as it became apparent that these tiny plants were not previously known.

To name the plant, inspiration was found in its appearance. The name, Ovicula biradiata comes from Ovicula = tiny sheep, in reference to the thick white “wool” that covers the leaves, and biradiata = referencing the two conspicuous ray petals in each flower. Researchers working with the plant have also affectionately named the plant “wooly” or “wooly devil.”
 
Big Bend National Park has exceptional biodiversity due to its large size (801,165 acres) and wide range of habitat types. In July of 2022, botanical researchers discovered a rare oak tree species (Quercus tardifolia) thought to be extinct since 2011. Standing 30’ tall, but in poor condition, studies of the tree hoped to provide insight on why the tree is going extinct and the ramifications for other endangered trees and their ecosystems.