A new species of blue-flowered plant, Jacquemontia verae, has been discovered in the Cerrado region of Goiás, Brazil, in May 2025. The discovery was made by Professor Isa Lucia de Morais from the State University of Goiás (UEG), along with researchers Mayara Pastore, André Luiz C. Moreira, Luiza A. Romeiro and Rosângela Simão-Bianchini.
The plant, a subshrub reaching up to 1.2 meters in height, is found in the rocky savanna vegetation along the GO-401 highway, near Serra da Fortaleza. The species has been named in honor of Professor Vera Lúcia Gomes Klein, recognizing her contributions to Brazilian botany.
Researchers are advocating for the creation of protected areas and the collection of seeds and live specimens for ecological restoration efforts, as the plant is already facing a high risk of extinction due to environmental pressures such as expanding livestock farming, monoculture, and road paving.