New flower species Ovicula biradiata discovered in West Texas

Located in the United States, a very small flower was discovered in West Texas, particularly in Big Bend National Park, in March 2024. This flower, which scientists have named Ovicula biradiata, represents a completely new genus and species and belongs to the Asteraceae family, which includes sunflowers and daisies. The discovery took place when park volunteer Deb Manley and a park ranger stumbled upon the flower during a hiking expedition in a remote area of the park. They noticed its unique features—furry leaves, purplish-striped petals, and yellow accents—yet they were unaware that they had found something new to science at the time. After returning from the hike, Manley researched the flower and posted about it on iNaturalist, which garnered significant attention in the scientific community. Isaac Lichter Marck, a researcher at the California Academy of Sciences, even noted that it was a flower he had never encountered before. This sudden buzz paved the way for a team to return and collect samples for DNA analysis, despite the flowers beginning to wilt by that time. The announcement of the discovery came in February 2025, igniting enthusiasm in the academic community regarding the flower's potential range and further study into the dynamics of its life cycle. Carolyn Whiting, a botanist associated with Big Bend, expressed her excitement about the prospects of this new species, emphasizing the importance of understanding when the plants germinate as a key part of their research. With last week's rain in the area, scientists are hopeful the flowers will bloom again soon, which will enable further research opportunities. Whiting's remarks also pointed to the remarkable fact that, despite extensive research conducted in Big Bend National Park, new species can still be found, underscoring the biodiversity and ecological significance of the region. Kelsey Wogan, an environmental lab manager, expressed excitement about the discovery and hopes to investigate the flower's range further, emphasizing how this finding serves as a reminder to keep exploring and observing nature diligently.