A previously unknown plant discovered in Big Bend National Park has been identified as an entirely new genus in the Asteraceae (daisy) family, following a collaborative study by park staff and researchers.
The discovery began in March 2024, when a volunteer botanist and a supervisory interpretive ranger spotted the unusual plant in a remote desert area of the park’s northern region. After extensive consultation with experts, databases, and genetic analysis, researchers confirmed it was not only a new species but also distinct enough to warrant classification as a new genus.
The plant has been formally named Ovicula biradiata, derived from Latin for “tiny sheep” and “two-rayed,” referencing the wool-like coating on its leaves and the flower’s two conspicuous ray petals. Informally, it has been nicknamed “wooly” or “wooly devil.”
The study involved collaboration between Big Bend National Park, the California Academy of Sciences, Sul Ross State University, and Centro Interdisciplinario de Investigación para el Desarrollo Integral Regional.
“This discovery highlights how much we still have to learn about the biodiversity of Big Bend,” said Superintendent Anjna O’Connor, who noted that future research will explore the plant’s lifecycle, pollinators, and distribution.
Big Bend National Park continues to be a significant site for biodiversity, with recent discoveries also including a new duck-billed dinosaur species and the rediscovery of an oak once believed extinct.
Photo: Close up view of “Wooly Devil.” Image Credit: NPS / D. Manley
Wow! These are fascinating. A little treasure!