Scientists identify new plant species in Texas

Published February 05, 2015

Botanists in West Texas have identified a new species of plant that is likely poisonous and may be near extinction.

The Fort Worth Star Telegram reports that the spiny distant relative of the eggplant had already been discovered twice in 1974 and 1990 but were misidentified.

The study identifying the plant is published in the Aug. 1 issue of the Journal of the Botanical Research of Institute of Texas, which was released Wednesday.

A group of scientists and students from universities in Colorado, Utah and Texas had set out to find the plant that has been named Solanum cordictum. The name, which in Latin means "from the heart" is a reference to Valentine, a town of 134 residents where it was found.

URL

https://www.foxnews.com/science/scientists-identify-new-plant-species-in-texas