New Plant Species Discovered in Texas' Big Bend National Park Faces Extinction Threat

A new plant species, *Ovicula biradiata*, nicknamed the "Woolly Devil," has been discovered in Big Bend National Park in Texas. The tiny annual flower, growing only 1-3 cm tall, was identified thanks to a citizen science initiative where a park volunteer photographed the plant and uploaded it to iNaturalist. Genetic analysis revealed it's a unique member of the sunflower family, warranting its own genus. However, the plant is critically endangered, growing in only three small areas. Its exact location is being kept secret to protect it. Researchers are also exploring potential medicinal properties, while emphasizing the need for conservation efforts due to climate change and its limited habitat.