Gutierrezia elegans
| Gutierrezia elegans | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Eudicots |
| (unranked): | Asterids |
| Order: | Asterales |
| Family: | Asteraceae |
| Tribe: | Astereae |
| Genus: | Gutierrezia |
| Species: | G. elegans |
| Binomial name | |
| Gutierrezia elegans Al Schneider & P.Lyon | |
Gutierrezia elegans, the Lone Mesa snakeweed, is a species of Gutierrezia that was discovered by Peggy Lyon, a Colorado State University botanist, and Al Schneider, an amateur botanist of the Four Corners area, August 4, 2008.[1]
They found the plant while they were putting together a list of plant species in Lone Mesa State Park. Peggy said that they would have missed noticing the plant if they were only looking for known rare plants.[2]
They sent the specimen to Guy Nesom, a plant expert. Guy and other experts examined the plant and agreed that it was a previously undiscovered species of Gutierrezia. Tim Hogan, an employee of the University of Colorado Herbarium, said that the discovery shows us how little we know about biodiversity.[1]
The Lone Mesa snakeweed is the sixth new plant discovered in Colorado in roughly 15 years.[2]
For more information about Gutierrezia elegans, to read its description, and to see photos of it, go to Four Corners Wildflowers .
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Pepperl, Natasha (2009-02-04). "CSU botanist discovers new plant species". Collegian. Retrieved 2009-08-23.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Jaffe, Mark (2009-02-02). ""Pretty" snakeweed discovered in on a mesa". Denver Post. Retrieved 2009-08-23.