For the first time in nearly 50 years, a brand new genus and species of plant has been discovered in a U.S. national park. Now dubbed the wooly devil (Ovicula biradiata) for its fuzzy white foliage and striking crimson-striped white petals, the eye-catching flowering plant was first observed at Big Bend National Park in West Texas on March 2024 by park volunteer Deb Manley.
"O. biradiata is a member of the sunflower family, although it does not resemble its sunburst-shaped relatives at first glance," said Issac Lichter Marck, a researcher at the California Academy of Sciences, in a statement. Lichter Marck is one of several researchers who authored a study on the plant published on Tuesday in the journal PhytoKeys. "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 small, discreet plant -- which measures 1 to 3 inches across -- is known colloquially to botanists as a "belly plant" as it can only be properly observed by lying on the ground. The short-lived wildflower only blooms after rain, with researchers noting, "the extremely narrow range and ephemerality of the species suggests it is highly sensitive to variable weather patterns." It can be found growing in harsh rocky habitats with scant rainfall, alongside a variety of drought-tolerant shrubs. Its scientific name honors the iconic bighorn sheep in Big Bend, with Ovicula meaning "tiny sheep," researchers said.
"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. He warned climate change pushing deserts to become hotter and drier means highly specialized plants like the wooly devil are facing 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," he added.
The discovery marks the first time a new plant genus has been described in a national park since the mountain-dwelling shrub July gold (Dedeckera eurekensis) was found in Death Valley National Park in 1976. "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," Lichter Marck said.
Researchers are hopeful the wooly devil may contain 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," said Keily Peralta, co-author of the study, 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."