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If you thought US national parks had already revealed all their secrets, think again! In 2024, Big Bend National Park in Texas made history with a groundbreaking discovery: a completely new plant species—and more surprisingly, a new plant genus—the first to be found in a US national park since 1976!
The newly discovered plant has been given the common name “Wooly Devil”, and for good reason:
The story of the Wooly Devil began in March 2024 when park volunteer Deb Manley spotted the plant and uploaded photos of it to the iNaturalist platform. The images caught the attention of botanists, who were granted permission to collect specimens for further study.
The shocking revelation? It’s a… sunflower! 
At first glance, the Wooly Devil looks nothing like a sunflower. Its fuzzy, cactus-like appearance is deceiving. However, after DNA sequencing, researchers confirmed that this plant actually belongs to the Asteraceae family—the same group as sunflowers and daisies!
To protect the plant, its exact location is being kept secret while scientists work to determine whether it should be classified as an endangered species.
Under a microscope, researchers discovered specialized glands in the Wooly Devil that are known to produce anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer compounds in other plants from the sunflower family.
While more research is needed, this highlights the untapped potential of preserving plant diversity, especially in fragile desert ecosystems.
How many undiscovered plant species are still out there?
Could they hold the key to medical breakthroughs?
How can we protect these fragile ecosystems before species disappear forever?
One thing is certain: nature still has many mysteries waiting to be uncovered!
What do you think about this discovery? Share your thoughts in the comments!
Meet the “Wooly Devil” – A Plant Like No Other
The newly discovered plant has been given the common name “Wooly Devil”, and for good reason:
- “Wooly” – because of its fuzzy, sheep-like texture.
- “Devil” – due to its two red ray florets resembling tiny devil horns and its proximity to an area known as Devil’s Den within the park.
- Ovicula comes from the Latin word for “tiny sheep,” referencing both its fluffy appearance and the park’s iconic desert bighorn sheep.
- Biradiata means “two-rayed,” referring to its two nearly symmetrical ray florets.
A Discovery That Started With a Volunteer
The story of the Wooly Devil began in March 2024 when park volunteer Deb Manley spotted the plant and uploaded photos of it to the iNaturalist platform. The images caught the attention of botanists, who were granted permission to collect specimens for further study.
The shocking revelation? It’s a… sunflower! At first glance, the Wooly Devil looks nothing like a sunflower. Its fuzzy, cactus-like appearance is deceiving. However, after DNA sequencing, researchers confirmed that this plant actually belongs to the Asteraceae family—the same group as sunflowers and daisies!
A Crisis in the Making: Could the Wooly Devil Be on the Brink of Extinction?
Despite just being discovered, the Wooly Devil may already be at risk of disappearing. So far, it has only been found in three small locations within Big Bend, and with rising temperatures and drier conditions due to climate change, its survival is uncertain. To protect the plant, its exact location is being kept secret while scientists work to determine whether it should be classified as an endangered species.A Hidden Secret: Could the Wooly Devil Have Medical Benefits?
Beyond its rarity, this plant might hold valuable secrets for medicine. Under a microscope, researchers discovered specialized glands in the Wooly Devil that are known to produce anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer compounds in other plants from the sunflower family. While more research is needed, this highlights the untapped potential of preserving plant diversity, especially in fragile desert ecosystems.Why This Discovery Matters
Finding a new plant genus in a US national park is incredibly rare. This discovery raises major questions: How many undiscovered plant species are still out there? Could they hold the key to medical breakthroughs? How can we protect these fragile ecosystems before species disappear forever?One thing is certain: nature still has many mysteries waiting to be uncovered!
What do you think about this discovery? Share your thoughts in the comments!
