A New Flower
If you want to see one of the most recently discovered flower species in the world, head to Shakerag Hollow—the Sewanee purple phacelia (Phacelia sewaneensis) is blooming right now. Join Biology Professor Jon Evans on the trail as he shares how a striking pattern—purple, blue, purple, blue—revealed that what was once thought to be a single species is actually two. It’s a rare thing to identify a new species in North America, especially one hiding in plain sight in one of Sewanee’s most iconic landscapes. The discovery was also featured in the Fall 2024 edition of Sewanee magazine.
