New plant species in Bolivia

Blog assignment
Eight New Species Discovered in Bolivia National Parks

In the Madidi National park and the surrounding areas scientists from the Missouri Botanical Garden and their colleagues discovered eight new plant species. These plant species were found on the slopes of the Andes Mountains in Northern Bolivia. The scientists have been conducting an inventory of all of the plant species in the park. Prestonia leco, Passiflora madidiana, Siphoneugena minima, Siphoneugena glabrata, Hydrocotyle apolobambensis, Weberbauerocereus madidiensis, Styloceras connatum and Meriania horrida are the names of the plant species that were discovered in the park. All eight of these species of plants were given vulnerable status because they are only found in certain places in the park.
For the entire inventory since 2000 the scientists and their colleagues have discovered 132 new plant species, 32 of theses plant species have been published as new species and these eight most recent plant species that were discovered are all in preparation to be published as new species as well. Once these plants get published as new species they will most likely be put under the vulnerable status as well because of their remote location.
The Andes mountains is one place that has the potential for many new plant species to be discovered because of the remoteness of the park and the areas that have yet to be explored. Other areas in the world like Madagascar, the Amazon Jungle, and the Congo Jungle all have the potential for many new species to be discovered. The discovery of these new plants and animals can lead to many great things. Most importantly the discovery of new plants is key because of the potential for cures to diseases and sicknesses that can be rendered from certain plants in the jungles of the world. Plants are the key to the discovery of many new substances and medicines.

- Justin Hall