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New Plant Species Discovered in Big Bend National Park

4/16/2026

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Summary

Story summary

In Big Bend National Park, Texas, park staff discovered a new plant species named Ovicula biradiata, the wooly devil.
The discovery occurred in March 2024 when a volunteer and a ranger found fuzzy plants among desert rocks.
Researchers confirmed it as a new genus within the daisy family.
It is preliminarily classified as vulnerable due to severe drought and ongoing research aims to learn more about its habitat.

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Story summary

In Big Bend National Park, Texas, park staff discovered a new plant species named Ovicula biradiata, the wooly devil.
The discovery occurred in March 2024 when a volunteer and a ranger found fuzzy plants among desert rocks.
Researchers confirmed it as a new genus within the daisy family.
It is preliminarily classified as vulnerable due to severe drought and ongoing research aims to learn more about its habitat.