Scientists Hoping Newly Discovered West Texas Flower Blooms Again

 

BIG BEND NATIONAL PARK, TX – Scientists are hoping a recently discovered flower in Big Bend National Park will bloom again in the coming weeks so they can continue research on it, according to an Associated Press report.

The tiny flower, known officially as Ovicula biradiata, has been nicknamed the “wooly devil.” It has furry leaves, purple-striped petals and pops of yellow. It’s in the same family as sunflowers and daisies.

It was discovered last year in Big Bend National Park in the desert of far West Texas.

Scientists are hopeful the flowers will bloom again after rain fell on the drought-stricken region this last week, giving them a chance to learn more about when the plants germinate, said Carolyn Whiting, a botanist with the National Park Service.

The flowers dried up soon after they were discovered last year. While scientists were able to extract DNA from the flower, they still don’t know yet how it reproduces, what potential uses it might have, and if it’s endangered.

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