Gutierrezia elegans
Encyclopedia
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.
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.
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
.
The Lone Mesa snakeweed is the sixth new plant discovered in Colorado
in roughly 15 years.
For more information about Gutierrezia elegans, to read its description, and to see photos of it, go to Four Corners Wildflowers http://www.swcoloradowildflowers.com/Yellow%20Enlarged%20Photo%20Pages/gutierrezia%20elegans.htm.
Gutierrezia
Gutierrezia is a genus of flowering plants in the sunflower family. Plants of this genus are known generally as snakeweeds or matchweeds. There are about 25 species found in North and South America. These plants contain chemical compounds which can be toxic to livestock and some are considered weeds...
that was discovered by Peggy Lyon, a Colorado State University
Colorado State University
Colorado State University is a public research university located in Fort Collins, Colorado. The university is the state's land grant university, and the flagship university of the Colorado State University System.The enrollment is approximately 29,932 students, including resident and...
botanist, and Al Schneider, an amateur botanist of the Four Corners area, August 4, 2008.
They found the plant while they were putting together a list of plant species in Lone Mesa State Park
Lone Mesa State Park
Lone Mesa State Park is a closed access state park in Colorado. It is currently undergoing development and planning. The only allowed use is limited hunting with special permits....
. Peggy said that they would have missed noticing the plant if they were only looking for known rare plants.
They sent the specimen
Specimen
A specimen is a portion/quantity of material for use in testing, examination, or study.BiologyA laboratory specimen is an individual animal, part of an animal, a plant, part of a plant, or a microorganism, used as a representative to study the properties of the whole population of that species or...
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
Biodiversity
Biodiversity is the degree of variation of life forms within a given ecosystem, biome, or an entire planet. Biodiversity is a measure of the health of ecosystems. Biodiversity is in part a function of climate. In terrestrial habitats, tropical regions are typically rich whereas polar regions...
.
The Lone Mesa snakeweed is the sixth new plant discovered in Colorado
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
in roughly 15 years.
For more information about Gutierrezia elegans, to read its description, and to see photos of it, go to Four Corners Wildflowers http://www.swcoloradowildflowers.com/Yellow%20Enlarged%20Photo%20Pages/gutierrezia%20elegans.htm.